In a significant policy shift that aligns with India’s growing focus on formal skill recognition, the Government of India has mandated that skill certification will now be a mandatory criterion for participation in government tenders. This major reform is set to elevate the quality of public infrastructure projects while offering greater recognition and job opportunities for India’s skilled workforce.
The directive, rolled out by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will take effect in phases from October 2025 onwards.
💡 What This Means
From now on, individuals and contractors bidding on government projects must present valid skill certifications for their workforce. The rule applies to both public sector undertakings (PSUs) and private contractors involved in:
- Construction and civil infrastructure
- Electrical and plumbing services
- Road and transport projects
- Railways and smart cities
- IT and digital public services
This move supports the government’s broader vision under Skill India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat @2047 to create a highly skilled, globally competitive workforce.
📈 Why This Change?
India has the world’s youngest workforce, but a large portion remains informally trained, which limits their participation in formal jobs and reduces overall project quality in public works. This new policy aims to:
- Ensure higher standards in public service delivery
- Promote certified and verified skilled labor
- Encourage workers to pursue formal skilling pathways
- Improve efficiency, safety, and accountability in government projects
According to the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), only around 6-7% of India’s total workforce has formal certification, even though millions are skilled through experience. Making certification mandatory is expected to significantly change that.
📋 Sectors That Will Require Mandatory Certification
The certification mandate will initially apply to high-impact sectors such as:
- Construction & Real Estate
- Transport Infrastructure
- Smart City Projects
- Telecommunication Installation
- Manufacturing & Industrial Parks
- IT and Software Implementation in Government Projects
Contractors must ensure a minimum percentage (usually 70–100%) of their on-ground workforce has valid skill certifications from authorized training partners.
🧑🏭 Who Needs to Be Certified?
The rule will apply to:
- Engineers, technicians, plumbers, electricians, masons
- IT service professionals
- Skilled machine operators
- Supervisors in field operations
Both individual freelancers and workers under firms will need to obtain certifications issued by:
- NSDC and its training partners
- ITI (Industrial Training Institutes)
- Sector Skill Councils (SSCs)
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessments
📚 How to Get Skill Certified?
Whether you are new or experienced in a trade, here’s how to get certified:
✅ Step-by-Step Process:
- Visit Skill India Portal
- Choose a relevant course or apply under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
- Enroll with an NSDC-certified Training Partner
- Attend training and complete assessment
- Receive a digital certificate with QR code validation
These certificates are verifiable and will now be a key document during government tender submissions.
🧑💼 Impact on Contractors and MSMEs
For large contractors and MSMEs, this mandate means stricter workforce compliance. Companies that previously relied on uncertified labor must now invest in training and upskilling programs. However, this also opens the door for smaller certified firms to compete fairly.
The policy supports digital initiatives like GeM (Government e-Marketplace), where certified vendors will be prioritized, and those with low compliance may face penalties or disqualification.
🌐 Resources for Skilling & Certification
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. For official updates, refer to government sources like the MSDE, NSDC, or GeM portal. CareerVarta does not conduct any certification programs or recruitment activities.
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