Tag Archives: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C) for Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, GoI, inaugurated the prestigious VISA-THSC Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Project in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, on 19 November. The Minister, who endorsed the MoU signing between THSC and VISA, has been instrumental in championing this transformative initiative, which is set to recognize, certify, and upskill over 20,000 individuals across India’s tourism and hospitality sectors over the next three years. In his inaugural address, Chaudhary underscored the profound impact of this project, stating, “Through the RPL initiative, we are not merely certifying skills; we are acknowledging and validating the hard work, expertise, and experience of our people. This project is a powerful step toward recognizing and empowering the skilled workforce in Bharatpur and Rajasthan, especially in tourism and hospitality—sectors integral to India’s growth and cultural heritage. By certifying these skills, we are laying a strong foundation for economic upliftment and sustained job creation.” Targeting the certification of nearly 7,000 individuals in its first year alone across India, the project focuses on roles such as Tour Guide, Customer Service Executive, Food Server, Walk Tour Facilitator, and Paragliding Ground Crew Chief. Bharatpur’s Keoladeo National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site and major tourist attraction—offers an ideal setting for the project, enabling local residents to gain formal recognition and contribute as ambassadors of India’s heritage and hospitality. Rajan Bahadur, CEO of THSC, shared his vision for the VISA-THSC RPL Project, stating, “The Project aligns closely with THSC’s mission to bridge skill gaps in the tourism and hospitality sectors by providing individuals with industry-recognized certifications. This initiative will uplift livelihoods in Bharatpur and beyond, enhancing service quality across the industry. By raising service standards, …

Ashok Institute of Hospitality & Tourism Management (AIH&TM), a certified hospitality training institute under India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), has introduced a tailor-made program in ‘Entrepreneurship Development’ exclusively designed for graduates in the tourism & hospitality industry. The programme was formally inaugurated by Arvind Singh, IAS, Secretary (Tourism) at a webinar hosted by ITDC. Singh, said, “ITDC’s initiative to create entrepreneurs under its Entrepreneurship Development Programme is a very timely and welcome initiative with the support of Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) under their organizations namely National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) & National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD). All interested graduates, diploma holders, and professionals who have lost their jobs will be approached for enrolment under the programme. These are very tough times for the industry and we are working towards the revival of the sector. I wish the programme all success”. The webinar was convened by Shri. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, IAS, C&MD, India Tourism Development Council (ITDC) and had in attendance eminent officials, including Atul Kumar Tiwari, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Neelam Shami Rao, IAS, DG, National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and Gyan Bhushan, CEO ,National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology  (NCHMCT). Motivational talks and experiences were shared by Sh. Ritesh Aggarwal CEO, OYO Rooms & Sh. Abhinav Balyan, MD&CEO, Educator Extraordinaire Ltd. Under the ‘Entrepreneurship Development Programme’, graduates from hotel management institutes as well as recently unemployed and other experienced hospitality professionals would be provided with the non-financial support for running catering or hospitality-related establishments (canteen/café, Event Management, Manpower Services, Banquet services, …