IIT Ropar Technology and Innovation Foundation Signs MoU with Ministry of Minority Affairs under the PM VIKAS Scheme
We are excited to announce the formalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT Ropar Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India under the PM VIKAS Scheme. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in providing advanced, fully sponsored skill development opportunities for 1,200 minority youth across Punjab — empowering them with the skills required to thrive in emerging technological sectors.
Program Overview
This partnership focuses on industry-aligned skill training, designed to enhance the employability of youth through technology-driven education. By offering Fully funded hands-on training in high-growth sectors, the program aims to prepare participants for future-ready roles that meet the current demands of the job market. The training focuses on practical skill acquisition that directly connects participants with job opportunities — improving both individual livelihoods and the broader economic landscape — without placing any financial burden on the participants or their families.
Program Objectives
Enhancing Employability:
Participants will receive training in technologically advanced sectors, ensuring they are equipped with the practical skills required by industries such as precision farming, drone technology, automotive manufacturing, and IT technical support.
Promoting Entrepreneurship:
In addition to technical training, the program also emphasizes entrepreneurial development, enabling youth to start their own ventures and contribute to the local economy by offering self-employment opportunities.
Facilitating Livelihood Generation:
By integrating participants into market and credit linkages, the program provides essential resources to help participants transition from training to sustainable employment or business ownership, ensuring economic stability and financial inclusion.
Specialized Training Domains
The programme includes specialized, fully sponsored training in the following domains:
Precision Farming Technician
Participants will gain expertise in smart agriculture technologies, including IoT, data-driven crop management, and automation systems, making them proficient in modern agricultural practices.
Junior Engineer – Drone (R&D)
This module offers aerial systems design training, focusing on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remote sensing applications in industries such as agriculture, surveying, and infrastructure monitoring.
Automotive Welding Machine Operator
The program will focus on advanced welding technologies critical for the automotive manufacturing industry, providing participants with the skills to operate and maintain automated welding systems and other precision tools.
IT Technical Support Executive
This domain prepares participants for roles in network management, system integration, and IT troubleshooting, catering to the growing need for skilled professionals in the digital infrastructure space.
Training Delivery
Industry-Relevant Curriculum
The training curriculum has been developed in collaboration with industry experts to ensure it meets the current and future needs of the job market. The focus is on delivering hands-on, real-world training, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of their chosen domain.
Training Centres Across Punjab
Training will be delivered at strategically located centres across Punjab, providing easy access to youth from diverse backgrounds. These centres are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure immersive learning experiences and industry-standard education.
Impact and Vision for Viksit Bharat @2047
The PM VIKAS Scheme is far more than a training programme. It is a transformational, government-supported initiative to build a skilled, self-reliant workforce that contributes to India’s economic growth. By focusing on technology-driven skill development, this initiative supports the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision—building an empowered, innovation-driven economy.
Through capacity-building and competency-based skill development, we are helping to create a workforce that is ready to meet the technological challenges of the future. This initiative will also contribute to achieving the national goal of a self-reliant India by creating highly skilled professionals across diverse sectors.