Govt inducts first batch of Indian Skill Development Services

In an effort to strengthen the skill development ecosystem in the country, the government has inducted the first batch of the Indian Skill Development Services (ISDS), the newest central government Group A services, on Monday

The Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS) has 263 all India posts. The cadre comprises of 3 posts at senior administrative grade, 28 posts at junior administrative grade, 120 posts at senior time scale and 112 posts at junior time scale.


As part of the training program, a complete overview of management and governance of skilling in particular, and functioning of the government system in general, will be offered. After this capsule, there will be a foundation course and then further training will be provided to the officers to enrich them with the knowledge and skills needed to run the skill eco-system.

“This service has been specially created for the training directorate of the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship and is a Group ‘A’ service,” the ministry said in a statement. The first batch joining the ISDS cadre has after qualifying the Indian Engineering Service Examination conducted by UPSC.

“The aim for this is to attract young and talented administrators towards institutionalizing the skill development environment in the country,” it said.

“The new service will give a new impetus to the government’s skilling initiative by significantly improving the efficiency and effective implementation of the various schemes,” skills development minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said, adding that the ministry hopes that in years to come it will be able to create a workforce of trained skill administrators who will enable the government to achieve the set goals of the Skill India Mission.

“Administered training is paramount to face big challenge of skilling Indians. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, skill development has taken a priority with a hope that it will supply critical human resource not only in India but also internationally. Catering to the highly specific task of skill development, the ISDS services are a unique combination of skills, technology, management and public service,” he added.