MSDE, NSDC & Generation India Foundation Launches Skilling Report

Project AMBER Report “Empowering Lives Embracing Collaboration” was released, at the AMBER Summit, by Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. This report highlights the project's advancements in skills training and job placements, offering insights and best practices to guide future skills development initiatives in India.

Project AMBER (Accelerated Mission for Better Employment and Retention) is a joint initiative of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Generation India Foundation under Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) - a World Bank funded MSDE programme. Supported by leading CSR entities in India, including JPMorganChase, Project AMBER is a unique public-private partnership in which the public and private sector have collaborated to create a sustainable model for future skilling programmes, benefiting both trainees and the broader economy.

Tiwari, while unveiling the report, emphasised the crucial role of skill development in economic growth, stating, “The AMBER project, launched to address supply-demand imbalances and equip the workforce with essential skills for a rapidly changing job market, exemplifies public-private collaboration. By focusing on all aspects of the skilling lifecycle and using innovative methods and targeted interventions, it has provided valuable insights for improving short-term training programs. Moving forward, we aim to scale efforts, enhance inclusivity, leverage technology, and strengthen partnerships to boost skill development and employment outcomes in India."

Key Findings

• Project AMBER achieved a 73 per cent reported placement rate within three months of graduation.
• 51 per cent of the nearly 26,000 trainees were women.
• Based on a short-term outcomes evaluation conducted by a third party agency, 85 per cent of graduates found jobs directly related to their training, earning 14-38 per cent higher wages than their peers.
• The project enhanced capacity of 20+ Training Partners and integrated multiple technology tools across the training value chain.

The report highlights how Project AMBER has empowered individuals to succeed in a dynamic job market, Dheeraj, an AMBER graduate, said, “Project AMBER has completely changed my perspective on life, the future, and struggle. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds broadened my outlook and reshaped my career.”

The report also discusses the project’s potential for scalability and replication across various regions and sectors. These insights can help refine strategies to meet the evolving needs of skills development.