India targets 500 million skilled workers by 2022

Two Indian laborers roll rocks for use in road construction towards a truck (not in the picture) in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. (DIBYANGSHU SARKAR – AFP/Getty Images)

India aims to train as many as 500 million skilled workers by 2022 to meet the demands of its growing economy, Outlook magazine quoted education minister Kapil Sibal as saying.

Saying that the country needs to focus on blue collar as well as white collar workers, Sibal said the country is expecting up to $1 trillion in investment over the next five years, and a large number of vocational experts will be needed as infrastructure is built and industries like construction, hospitality and tourism grow.

"We have pledged to achieve a gross enrolment ratio of 30 per cent in universities, up from the current 14 per cent (of students from 18 to 24 years) by 2020. But even if we succeed in achieving this, there will be over a crore (10 million young people) who do not go to universities," Sibal said. "For such students we are bringing by next month a national vocational education framework, whereby we will provide skill training to school students who can then go to polytechnics and fill the need for skilled workers."