The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, hosted the virtual inaugural session of Skill Manthan on 9 September 2026. The national webinar series carried the theme “Building Sustainable Livelihoods for Women” and focused on district-led skilling, entrepreneurship, finance, technology, and market access.
Skill Manthan and district-level skilling
Skill Manthan is a national webinar series linked to skill development and livelihood planning in India. The session placed district administrations at the centre of local-need-based skilling, with an emphasis on district-specific economic conditions and employment patterns.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, delivered the keynote address. Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of MSDE, referred to “hyperlocal skilling” as a framework for matching training with district-level job opportunities and economic realities.
Women’s economic empowerment through local models
The webinar served as a platform for sharing district-led initiatives for women’s economic empowerment. The models discussed combined vocational training with entrepreneurship support, financial access, technology use, and market linkage.
District Magistrate Ms. Jasjit Kaur of Bijnor and District Magistrate Dr. Vijay Kumar Singh of Meerut presented district strategies from Uttar Pradesh. Dr. G. Lakshmisha, District Collector of NTR District in Andhra Pradesh, presented district-led models for sustainable livelihood generation for women.
District Skill Development Plans and MSMEs
District Skill Development Plans are planning instruments used to align training with local industry requirements. In this context, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were identified as a major local employment segment linked to vocational training and livelihood creation.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is a Union ministry of the Government of India.
- District Skill Development Plans are used to connect training with local labour-market needs.
- MSMEs stand for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
- Hyperlocal skilling refers to training designed around district-level economic conditions and jobs.
Skill development in India is implemented through central ministries, state departments, and district administrations. Women’s livelihood programmes often combine skilling, entrepreneurship, finance, and market access.
