Imparting skill training to youth is crucial for reasons like boosting employment opportunities, economic growth, reducing brain drain, personal growth, addressing industry needs and promoting entrepreneurship. By imparting skill training to youth in India, the country can harness the potential of its demographic dividend, drive economic growth, and create a more prosperous future.
India needs future-ready skills to stay competitive in the global job market and leverage its demographic dividend. With the country’s youthful population and growing economy, investing in skills like artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and green technologies can drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
July 15 is observed as World Youth Skills Day with an aim to emphasize upon skilling the youth with the contemporary skills to empower them and promote economic development. With the advent of generative AI and other technologies, a lot of traditional jobs are facing existential crisis. Amid this, it is important to ensure that there is a workforce which is skilled and ready to work in the new environment using new technologies.
Let us look at the top CSR initiatives that are working towards skilling the youth.
Honda CSR Project Buniyaad to Skill Youth for Hospitality Industry in Sikkkim
Honda India Foundation (HIF), the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of all Honda group of companies in India recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Craftsmanship Training & Scheme (DCTSE), Skill Development Department (SDD), Government of Sikkim. The MoU marks the launch of Project Buniyaad in Sikkim under the World Bank-supported Sikkim INSPIRES Programme.
This collaborative effort aims to deliver structured, industry-oriented training in the hospitality sector, certifications by recognized agencies and assured placement opportunities for youth. The initiative is designed to drive sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill-based learning. As Sikkim celebrated 50 years of statehood, the signing of this MoU also adds to the significance of this year’s World Youth Skills Day celebration, reinforcing the role of partnerships in building a future ready and skilled workforce for long-term development.
Launched in 2024, Project Buniyaad aims to empower youth, particularly from National Priority Regions (NPR) like the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir, by providing high-quality hospitality training. This initiative addresses regional challenges, enhances employability, and fosters sustainable livelihoods, contributing to inclusive growth and economic development. The launch of Project Buniyaad in Sikkim adds to its growing footprint and further highlights HIF’s continued focus on creating inclusive impact through skill-based interventions in partnerships with state governments.
NMDC’s Skill Development Programme for Tribal Youth from Chhattisgarh
NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer, has launched a transformative skill development initiative under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, aimed at empowering 500 tribal youth from the Bastar and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh.
In collaboration with the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Hyderabad, NMDC will fully sponsor technical education in plastics and polymer technology covering tuition, training, lodging, and other associated costs.
Training is imparted on the courses mentioned below –
1. Machine Operator – NSQF Level IV Certification
2. Diploma in Plastics Technology Course and Plastics Mould Technology Course:
3. Post Graduate Diploma in Plastics Processing & Testing
ACC Limited and Adani Foundation skilling youth and women
ACC, the cement and building material company of Adani group, in collaboration with the Adani Foundation, continues to uplift rural youth in Jharkhand through the Adani Skill Development Centre in Chaibasa. With a focus on practical, job-ready skills, ASDC is enabling youth to overcome barriers and build sustainable careers.
ACC and Adani Foundation are also enabling rural women in Uttar Pradesh to build brighter futures through focused skill training at the Adani Skill Development Centre in ACC Tikaria. With a vision to create long-term, inclusive impact, women are being equipped with practical skills, digital literacy, and employment-linked training that opens doors to sustainable livelihoods.
CSR of APM Terminals Pipavav for skilling rural youth
APM Terminals Pipavav inaugurated a state-of-the-art Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Workshop at its Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Rajula, as a part of its ongoing commitment to skill and entrepreneurship development among rural youth. The facility is equipped with a high-precision Vertical Machining Centre (VMC), a computer-operated system widely used across the manufacturing sector for milling, drilling, and tapping operations.
The workshop has been designed to provide local youth with hands-on training in precision machining, a highly sought-after skill that enables access to employment opportunities across industrial sectors. It aligns with the company’s long-term vision of building a future-ready workforce and fostering inclusive growth in the surrounding communities.
The CNC Workshop is part of APM Terminals Pipavav’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mission, which has positively impacted more than one lakh people across 400 villages over the last decade.
Taj Mahal, New Delhi and Chhanv Foundation imparts Hospitality Skills training to Acid Attack Survivors
Hotel Taj Mahal, New Delhi recently partnered with Chhanv Foundation to provide support to acid attack survivors in hospitality skilling – enabling economic empowerment, professional readiness, and social inclusion. The initiative aims to support the launch of Sheroes Café in Delhi, a space that will honour courage and the transformative power of opportunity.
The programme commenced with an immersive familiarisation tour of the hotel, offering participants an insider’s perspective on the Front of the House and Heart of the House operations. From observing guest interactions at the reception to experiencing the precision of back-of-house culinary and housekeeping functions, the orientation laid the groundwork for a comprehensive training programme designed to build technical expertise and confidence.
The curriculum covered diverse areas of hospitality which included – Indian, Chinese, and Bakery production beverage and mocktail preparation, front office operations, and modules on grooming and personality development facilitated by the Learning & Development team at Taj Mahal, New Delhi. Parallel sensitisation sessions for associates and assigned buddies ensured a supportive ecosystem, embedding empathy and inclusion into the training journey.
CSR of Axis Bank to skill youths in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana
Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) and Medha recently announced a four-year partnership to equip 16,000 youth from Tier 2 and 3 cities across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana with core employability, technical, and vocational skills that are relevant across diverse industries and emerging sectors. The initiative aims to prepare the youth, irrespective of their background, for an evolving job market by strengthening the local ecosystem, building confidence, providing workplace exposure, and providing access to income-generating opportunities with sustained professional support.
With a planned outreach of 9,600 youth in Uttar Pradesh, 4,800 in Haryana, and 1,600 in Bihar, the programme aims to support their long-term career growth with the tools, skills, and access needed to contribute productively to the economy and grow in their chosen fields with resilience and clarity. Medha will leverage its formal partnerships with state education systems and community-based organisations (CBOs) to deepen outreach across peri-urban areas and strengthen youth engagement.
Additionally, this initiative will engage students from government colleges, polytechnics, and vocational institutions. A blended delivery model—anchored by campus-based Career Service Centres, virtual learning platforms, and WhatsApp communities, will offer mentoring, counselling, and continuous learning aligning with youth aspirations and real-world opportunities.