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The incubator of BITS Pilani, to promote Innovation & Entrepreneurship among students in all National Skills Training Institutes (NSTI) across the country. NSTIs, under the aegis of DGT, provide vocational training to create a pool of Instructor trainees and skilled manpower for industries. At present, there are 33 NSTIs operational in the country, where more than 10,000 students pursuing skill training under the Craft Instructor Training Schemes (CITS) and Craftsmen Training Scheme(CTS). There are designated NSTI(W) as well, that specifically focus on women's vocational training.
Even though there is ample support for innovations to become ventures at School and Higher Education levels, minimal support exists for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, that includes more than 13 lacs students enrolled in ITIs and NSTIs. Majority of the TVET graduates get absorbed in the industry, work as trainers or educators, or get into traditional self-employment trades.
Protsahan Spardha: Kaushalta se Udyamita:Launched on 29th October 2025 at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, Government of India, the program aims to nurture skill-based entrepreneurship among students of National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) across India.
The initiative is designed to empower students from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities to transform their innovative ideas into sustainable ventures, fostering inclusion and opportunity across India’s diverse socio-economic landscape. The program will engage over 10,000 students through awareness sessions, from which 100 promising innovators will be selected for intensive mentorship, business model training, and incubation support.
Need for intervention:- No entrepreneurship / incubation / funding program or incubator available at Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutions- This excludes, more than 20,000+ expert, hands-on, innovators from NSTI every year, and 600,000+ students in Government run ITIs alone- For Bharat to become truly AatmaNirbhar, it would need more innovative solution in hardware and technology solutions.
Program Overview:
• A business plan challenge designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students and alumni of National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs).
• The initiative aims to empower NSTI students to develop innovative solutions for business and societal challenges. • Further, the initiative aims to provide mentorship, training, and seed funding to transform their ideas into viable startups
• The program is being run in collaboration with Directorate General - Training, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF)
The competition will focus on key growth sectors - IT & ITeS, Automotive, Apparel, Electronics & Hardware, and Capital Goods & Manufacturing.
From these, the top 5 teams in each sector (total 15 teams) will advance to the final round and receive prize money as follows:- 1st Prize: ₹1,00,000- 2nd Prize: ₹75,000- 3rd Prize: ₹50,000 Beyond the competition, all shortlisted teams will receive continued mentoring, hands-on business support, and incubation assistance from PIEDS, BITS Pilani, helping them refine their ideas into viable, impactful enterprises. This initiative reflects Aditya Birla Capital’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth, empowering youth, and promoting innovation-driven livelihoods.
Speaking at the launch, Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, Government of India said, “At the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, we believe that every skilled individual carry within them the potential to become a job creator. Through this partnership with the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, we are enabling NSTI students to channel their technical skills into innovation and enterprise. The Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha will empower our young innovators to transform ideas into sustainable ventures, strengthening India’s vision of becoming an Aatmanirbhar and innovation-driven nation.”
The innovation challenge has been launched under the title Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha: Kaushalta se Udyamita, with the objective to nurture skill-based innovation in NSTI students. Being a first of its kind innovation challenge, it will cater to 10,000+ NSTI students and will include mentoring, prizes, access to resources, and further incubation, for launching the ideas of students in the market.
The focus of the program will be students with innovative ideas in IT/ITeS, Automotive, Apparel, Electronics & Hardware and Power, and Capital Goods & Manufacturing sectors. Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS), the incubator of BITS Pilani, would be managing this program, and is being supported under the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation.
About Directorate General of Training, MSDE (DGT):Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), is the apex body responsible for formulating national policies, standards, and coordination of vocational training in India, including women’s training. While Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) function under State Governments/UT Administrations, DGT oversees overall policy, quality, instructor training, and trade testing.
Through key schemes such as the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS), and Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS), DGT ensures large-scale skill development through more than 14,500 ITIs, 33 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and Institutes for Training of Trainers (IToTs), training over 23 lakh trainees nationwide. It is also driving modernization of ITIs with new-age trades in AI, IoT, Mechatronics, Renewable Energy, 3D Printing, and Drone Technology. To strengthen the industry connect, DGT promotes the Dual System of Training (DST) and Flexi-MoU model, while embedding Employability Skills as a mandatory component to enhance industry readiness and digital capability among trainees.
