51st NSQC Meeting on Vocational Education and Training Quality Assurance
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) conducted the 51st meeting of the National Skills Qualification Committee (NSQC) on October 14-15, 2026, chaired by Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Chairperson of NCVET. The meeting focused on quality assurance in vocational education, adoption and validity of qualifications, and alignment with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
AI-Based Content Mapping for Caregiving Qualifications
A significant agenda item involved reviewing qualifications in the caregiving domain following previous directives to examine potential overlaps. The Committee reviewed an AI-based content-mapping report developed with support from the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) AI team. Stakeholder consultations recommended assessing overlap based on core competencies, occupational functions, target beneficiary groups, work environment, scope of practice, sector/domain, qualification level, and actual qualification content, with AI-based matching serving as supplementary input alongside expert scrutiny.
Qualification Approvals and Submissions
The Committee considered 156 submissions for NSQF alignment and approval through the KaushalVerse portal, comprising 108 qualifications (60 new and 48 revised), 25 National Occupational Standards (NOSs) with 24 new and one revised, and 23 new micro-credentials. These submissions spanned multiple sectors and awarding bodies, reflecting ongoing efforts to maintain a responsive national skills qualification ecosystem that meets evolving industry and learner needs.
Additional Agenda Items and Defence Sector Request
Other agenda items included ratification of qualification adoption by awarding bodies, ratification of qualifications and NOSs granted through urgent or on-file approval processes, and requests concerning qualification validity and notional hours/on-the-job training requirements. The Committee also addressed the Indian Army's request for interim extension of validity for 110 Defence sector qualifications, noting that these qualifications remain operational in the skilling ecosystem and their expiration was creating operational challenges.
Participation and Representation
The meeting was attended by Shri Niranjan Kumar Sudhansu, Additional Secretary of MSDE and Executive Member of NCVET; Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Gaba, Executive Member of NCVET; Dr. Sandipann Narote, Director Qualifications at NCVET; representatives from Central Ministries including Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises; Directorate General of Training; and numerous awarding bodies including state education boards, universities, and educational trusts.