Jan Shikshan Sansthan Zonal Conference in Pune: Why MSDE’s Review Meet Matters for Grassroots Skilling

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is set to convene a two-day Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Zonal Conference-cum-Stakeholder Consultation in Pune on January 19–20, bringing together hundreds of grassroots skilling institutions. At a time when India’s skilling challenge is increasingly about reaching the last mile, the conference is expected to shape how community-based vocational training adapts to changing labour markets, digital tools and women-led livelihood models.

What the Pune conference is about

The event, organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, will be hosted at the Symbiosis Skill and Professional University. Representatives from 152 Jan Shikshan Sansthans across 11 States and Union Territories will participate, alongside officials from the Directorate of Jan Shikshan Sansthan and the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development.

Designed as both a review and a consultation forum, the conference will assess physical and financial progress of participating JSSs during FY 2025–26, while also providing space for structured discussions on policy refinements, implementation challenges and future directions of the scheme.

Understanding the Jan Shikshan Sansthan model

The Jan Shikshan Sansthan Scheme is a Central Sector initiative implemented through non-governmental organisations, with a distinctive focus on non-formal vocational education. Unlike mainstream skilling programmes that often target formally educated youth, JSSs cater primarily to non-literate and neo-literate adults, school dropouts and marginalised communities.

Special emphasis is placed on women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities and other disadvantaged groups. Training is delivered close to where people live—through sub-centres and community locations—making it particularly relevant in aspirational districts, tribal belts, left-wing extremism affected areas, and remote border regions.

Scale and outcomes so far

As of December 31, 2025, 294 JSSs are operational across 26 States and seven Union Territories. Together, they offer skill training in 51 courses aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), covering areas such as tailoring, beauty and wellness, food processing, handicrafts, and basic services.

More than 34 lakh beneficiaries have been trained under the scheme so far, with women accounting for over 28 lakh of them. This strong gender skew underscores the role of JSSs in supporting women-led livelihood creation and household-level income security, especially in rural and semi-urban India.

Why MSDE is pushing stakeholder consultations now

The Pune conference reflects a broader shift in India’s skilling policy—from simply expanding coverage to improving quality, relevance and sustainability. Officials are expected to use the platform to identify demand-driven and emerging skill areas, including the integration of digital tools and artificial intelligence in programme delivery, monitoring and outreach.

Capacity-building sessions will focus on employability skills, entrepreneurship development, credit linkages and financial management—areas where many grassroots institutions struggle despite strong community presence. An exposure visit to modern skill laboratories at the host university and a product exhibition showcasing locally developed JSS goods aim to bridge the gap between traditional skills and contemporary market expectations.

Institutional learning and policy feedback loops

One of the key objectives of the zonal conference format is to create a feedback loop between the Centre and implementing organisations. Field-level challenges—ranging from trainer availability and learner retention to post-training placement and self-employment support—are expected to feed into guideline refinements and administrative reforms.

For policymakers, such consultations offer insights into how national skilling frameworks translate on the ground, and where flexibility or additional support may be required to keep community-based models viable.

What comes next for the JSS Scheme

The valedictory session on January 20 will be addressed by senior ministry officials, including the Secretary of MSDE, with key recommendations from the conference to be consolidated for future action. These outcomes are likely to inform the next phase of strengthening the JSS Scheme—particularly its alignment with entrepreneurship promotion, local economic development and the broader vision of a skilled, self-reliant Bharat.

In that sense, the Pune meet is not just a routine review exercise, but a strategic checkpoint in India’s effort to ensure that skilling reaches those who are often left out of formal education and employment pathways.