Ministry of Minority Affairs Partners with IIT Palakkad to Upskill 400 Minority Youth in Emerging Tech
SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
Institutions: Ministry of Minority Affairs | Government of Kerala
The Ministry of Minority Affairs has signed an MoU with IIT Palakkad under the PM VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan) scheme to deliver future-tech training for minority youth in Kerala. The initiative will train 400 candidates in emerging domains: chip design, embedded software engineering, and drone R&D β with 150 each in the first two areas and 100 in drone engineering. The Ministry will fund the program, while IIT Palakkad will implement it. Trainees will receive stipends and placement support upon completion.
By targeting minority communities for cutting-edge technology skills, the program aims to bridge inclusion gaps in Indiaβs high-tech sectors, enhance upward mobility, and align skilling with national innovation priorities. Embedding such targeted interventions under PM VIKAS also strengthens the link between social equity and technological growth.
What is PM VIKAS scheme? β The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme, launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, integrates multiple earlier programmes to support education, skill development, entrepreneurship, and credit access for minority communities.
It focuses on skill training and upskilling through technology-driven modules, financial and digital inclusion for artisans and youth and credit support and market linkages via convergence with MSME and skilling missions. The schemeβs objective is to create self-reliant, employable, and entrepreneurially empowered communities, aligned with Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can targeted skilling programs for marginalized groups in frontier domains be scaled sustainably, with quality assurance and equitable placement outcomes?
Follow the full release here: MoU signed for Skilling Project under PM VIKAS Scheme between Ministry of Minority Affairs and IIT Palakkad