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Jayant Chaudhary Reviews CSTARI Kolkata Initiatives

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, on Monday reviewed academic reforms and infrastructure expansion at the Central Staff Training and Research Institute (CSTARI), Kolkata. During the visit, he laid the foundation stone for a new auditorium and participated in a tree plantation drive, underlining the government’s focus on future-ready and sustainable skilling institutions.

Strengthening Industry-Aligned Curriculum

The Minister undertook a detailed review of CSTARI’s curriculum development work under flagship schemes such as the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS), and Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS). Officials briefed him on updates to several courses aligned with the National Credit Framework and approved by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).

Emphasising emerging technologies and green sectors, CSTARI has introduced foundational modules on Artificial Intelligence for trainees across trades. New-age courses such as Data Annotation Assistant, Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant, Cyber Security Assistant, Semiconductor Technician, and 5G Network Technician have also been developed.

The institute has further prepared specialised curricula in Green Hydrogen Production and Nuclear Power Plant Technology, reflecting India’s expanding focus on clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Future-Ready Skill Ecosystem

Addressing faculty members and trainees, Shri Jayant Chaudhary said CSTARI plays a critical role in strengthening curriculum design, trainer development, and research-led interventions within India’s skill ecosystem. He stressed that institutions must remain agile and globally benchmarked as the country moves toward technological and industrial transformation.

He highlighted the importance of integrating emerging domains like Artificial Intelligence and green hydrogen into mainstream training programmes. According to him, modernised infrastructure combined with dynamic curricula will help empower youth and position India as a global skill capital.

The Minister also underscored the need for periodic review of CTS and CITS courses to keep them aligned with industry requirements. He called for deeper collaboration between CSTARI and the National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI) to strengthen quality content development.

Global Employability and Language Skills

In a significant observation, Shri Jayant Chaudhary emphasised integrating international language competencies such as Japanese and German within the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). He noted that such integration would enhance global employability prospects for Indian youth.

He reiterated that India’s skilling architecture must be adaptive, technology-aware, and globally competitive to meet evolving labour market demands.

Training Targets Surpassed

Reviewing performance metrics, the Minister noted that CSTARI has exceeded its annual training target for the current financial year, training 1,211 participants against a target of 1,200.

The institute’s training portfolio includes foundation courses for officers recruited through the Engineering Services Examination, induction and in-service programmes for Directorate General of Training (DGT) officers, trainer competency enhancement initiatives, pedagogy training, and employability skills modules.

CSTARI has also contributed to national capacity-building initiatives such as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana by training master trainers.

Infrastructure Expansion Roadmap

As part of its long-term development plan, the Minister laid the foundation stone for a 200-seat auditorium that will enhance CSTARI’s academic and training capacity. Officials also briefed him on plans to construct a new academic block and a 50-room executive hostel to accommodate growing training requirements.

These infrastructure upgrades are aimed at supporting expanding training activities and ensuring that the institute remains equipped to handle increasing demand.

Green Commitment on Campus

Marking the visit, Shri Jayant Chaudhary participated in a tree plantation drive within the campus. The gesture symbolised the government’s emphasis on sustainability and environmentally responsible development in public institutions.

The visit concluded with discussions on accelerating curriculum modularisation, deepening industry partnerships, and enhancing institutional excellence in line with national skilling priorities.

The review reflects the Centre’s continued push to modernise India’s skill development framework while aligning it with technological advancement, clean energy transitions, and global workforce standards.

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