To truly empower its youth and close the skills — employability gap, India must urgently address issues of quality assurance, accreditation and equitable access — laying the groundwork for a skilled, future-ready workforce

India’s ambitious goal of establishing itself as a global knowledge economy is contingent upon the successful integration of vocational education into its mainstream educational framework. A crucial determinant of this success is the capacity to equip the workforce with job, ready skills through effective vocational training.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 clearly states the objective of exposing at least 50 per cent of learners to vocational education by 2025. While online learning platforms have revolutionised the delivery of vocational skills, the unchecked expansion of these programmes has raised serious concerns about quality, credibility, and industry relevance. Without the implementation of robust quality assurance and accreditation mechanisms, the promise of enhanced employability through online vocational education will certainly fall short.

The online education market in India is booming, projected to reach a staggering $11 billion by 2026. Government — led initiatives like ‘SWAYAM’ have successfully enrolled over 12 million learners in diverse fields, and the launch of the National Digital University in 2023 underscores India’s unwavering commitment to digital learning. However, accessibility is a significant barrier that cannot be overlooked. The Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) 2022–23 conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) reveals a stark reality: only 4.2 per cent of rural households own a computer, compared to 21.6 per cent in urban areas. Similarly, a mere 24 per cent of rural households have internet access, in contrast to 66 per cent in urban regions.

This glaring digital divide unequivocally undermines the democratisation of vocational education, excluding a vast segment of rural and marginalised youth — precisely those who would benefit most from skill enhancement programmes. Furthermore, the inconsistency in the quality of online vocational content, ranging from world-class professional certifications to outdated and inferior courses, only exacerbates the skills gap rather than closing it. The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed access to vocational education. Initiatives like SWAYAM have successfully facilitated over 12 million student enrolments across various courses, while the establishment of the National Digital University in 2023 signals a bold commitment to expanding digital learning opportunities.

The NEP 2020 firmly advocates for a holistic integration of vocational education, highlighting the critical need for flexibility through multiple entry and exit points. It is essential to align curricula with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) to ensure that vocational qualifications are standardised and recognised nationally. This standardisation is vital for facilitating learner mobility and progression. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) plays an indispensable role in advancing skill development through its public–private partnership model. With over 5.2 million students trained and partnerships with more than 235 private sector organisations, NSDC’s initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), have dramatically improved skills across the country. However, it is imperative to recognise that most existing frameworks were designed for offline, centre-based training. Adapting these for online-only or hybrid models requires bold reimagination rather than simple replication. Accreditation is a non-negotiable quality assurance mechanism that guarantees vocational programmes meet established standards.

While the NSQF provides a solid foundation for competency — based certification, the current educational ecosystem lacks a dedicated regulatory framework for online vocational programmes. Regulatory bodies like the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) must rapidly evolve protocols tailored specifically for MOOCs, hybrid apprenticeships, simulation labs, and skill development powered by virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Additionally, the rise of micro-credentials, short-term, skill-specific certifications — underscores the urgent need for India to integrate these within formal educational frameworks.

This integration will enable learners to stack micro-credentials towards full qualifications that are recognised by employers. Without credible accreditation, we face significant risks: learners may waste time and resources on “certificate mills” without improving their employability, while employers may rightfully lose trust in online certifications, perpetuating biases against non-traditional pathways. We must act decisively to address these challenges.

Enhancing Employability

The true measure of any vocational programme is its job outcomes. In India, we face a significant paradox: despite an alarmingly high unemployment rate of 18.4 per cent among educated youth, industries are desperately seeking skilled talent. To effectively tackle this issue, NEP 2020 underscores the critical need for robust industry — academia partnerships. Initiatives such as mandatory internships, apprenticeship-embedded degrees, and industry-co-designed curricula are not just beneficial — they are essential. Online vocational platforms must go beyond theoretical knowledge and provide hands-on exposure through virtual labs, live projects, remote internships, and industry-sponsored challenges and hackathons. Moreover, the lack of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem, solving — often plagues online programmes. It is imperative to embed these skills into the curriculum to ensure graduates are fully prepared for the demands of the workplace.

Additionally, we must integrate vocational education into mainstream education to destigmatise skill-based learning and promote it as a respected and viable career option. Establishing a dedicated body to oversee the accreditation of online vocational programmes is vital to ensuring they meet high-quality standards and align with industry requirements. The time for action is now — we must prioritise and strengthen vocational education to enhance employability.

Technology for Quality Assurance

Utilise advanced analytics and AI-driven tools to monitor and enhance the effectiveness of online vocational training. Promote public — private partnerships and encourage collaborations between educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and Government bodies to co-create curricula and provide real-world training opportunities.

Invest in digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to ensure equitable access to online vocational education. Regularly update course content to reflect the latest industry trends and technological advancements. Ensuring the quality and accreditation of online vocational programmes is pivotal for India’s socio-economic development. By aligning educational initiatives with industry needs and leveraging technology, India can equip its youth with the skills necessary for the future workforce. A concerted effort involving policy-makers, educators, industry leaders, and the community is essential to realise this vision.

As India aspires to become a global skill capital, ensuring online vocational education’s quality, relevance, and credibility is no longer optional but a national necessity. The stakes are immense: empowering millions of youth with the skills to thrive in a dynamic global economy, driving economic growth, and advancing social mobility. This transformation requires bold policy innovation, rigorous accreditation, technological leverage, and relentless industry collaboration. Only then can online vocational programmes fulfil their promise, not just as a bridge to employment but as a foundation for India’s future prosperity.

(The writer is a Co-Founder and MD of Orane International, a Training Partner with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and a Network Member of India International Skill Centres, an initiative of GoI. Views are personal)