NE YOUTH BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 27
Tamil Nadu’s youth are being offered a launchpad that stretches far beyond conventional careers—with space technology, geospatial intelligence, drones, GIS, artificial intelligence, electronics and advanced digital systems opening new pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
The State is emerging as a significant national hub in the Centre’s push to prepare young Indians for the next generation of industries, with 27,404 apprentices engaged under space- and geospatial-related sectors in FY 2025-26, 530 PMKVY training centres and 668 NAPS establishments.
- Tamil Nadu emerges as a major youth-skilling hub with 27,404 apprentices engaged and 530 PMKVY training centres
- 6,579 youngsters trained under PMKVY in FY25, while 655 more received training/orientation in FY26
- State records 22,352 apprentices in FY24, 22,549 in FY25 and 27,404 in FY26 under space and geospatial-related sectors
- 668 establishments under NAPS open doors to industry-linked apprenticeship, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities
- IIT Madras, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, SRM, Hindustan and other Tamil Nadu institutions among HEIs offering space-technology courses
The figures underline a powerful message for Tamil Nadu’s young generation: the future will belong not merely to those who seek jobs, but to those who acquire futuristic skills and create value, enterprises and employment opportunities of their own.
The details were provided by Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Tamil Nadu’s space-age skilling numbers
Tamil Nadu recorded:
- 1,267 candidates trained/oriented under PMKVY and 22,352 apprentices engaged under NAPS in FY 2023-24
- 6,579 candidates trained/oriented and 22,549 apprentices engaged in FY 2024-25
- 655 candidates trained/oriented and 27,404 apprentices engaged in FY 2025-26
The State currently has:
- 530 PMKVY training centres
- 668 NAPS establishments
Together, these platforms are creating a bridge between classroom learning and industry experience, enabling young people to acquire skills in emerging technology sectors and gain exposure to real-world workplaces.
From classrooms to the cosmos
The Government is promoting skill development in space and geospatial sectors through flagship programmes including the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).
The programmes cover short-term skilling, upskilling and reskilling through Recognition of Prior Learning, as well as structured on-the-job apprenticeship training in areas such as:
- GIS and spatial data management
- Drone technology
- Software development
- Telecommunications
- Electronics
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Robotics and mechatronics
- Cybersecurity
- 5G technologies
For Tamil Nadu’s youth, these are not merely academic subjects. They are emerging career highways.
A young person trained in GIS can work in urban planning, disaster management, agriculture and infrastructure.
A drone technician can find opportunities in surveying, logistics, agriculture and industrial inspection.
A software or AI professional can build products for global markets from Tamil Nadu.
A skilled electronics or telecommunications technician can become part of the infrastructure powering the digital economy.
The opportunity is to learn today what industries will need tomorrow.
Tamil Nadu’s educational advantage
Tamil Nadu also possesses a strong higher-education ecosystem for space and advanced technology.
The list of higher educational institutions conducting space-technology courses includes prominent institutions in the State such as:
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Coimbatore Institute of Technology
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology
- Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
- Sri Sai Ram Engineering College
The presence of such institutions creates an ecosystem in which students can move from academic learning to specialised training, internships, research and industry-linked careers.
Space is no longer only for scientists
The emerging space economy is creating opportunities far beyond rocket scientists and astronauts.
The modern space ecosystem needs:
- Software developers
- Data scientists
- GIS specialists
- Drone technicians
- Electronics engineers
- Cybersecurity professionals
- AI and machine-learning experts
- Satellite-data analysts
- Manufacturing technicians
- Entrepreneurs and start-up founders
The Government has said that IN-SPACe has introduced 11 short-term skill-development courses in space technology, through which more than 1,000 candidates have been trained across the country.
Faculty for these courses include professionals from ISRO, IN-SPACe, former ISRO officers, private space entities, start-ups and academic institutions, bringing industry and practical expertise into the training ecosystem.
‘Skill yourself to create your own future’
The Skill India Mission seeks to equip Indian youth with industry-relevant skills and make them future-ready.
The Government is also aligning emerging skill roles with Industry 4.0 requirements in areas such as AI/ML, robotics, mechatronics and drone technology.
New-age courses include 5G Network Technician, Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant, Cyber Security Assistant and Drone Technician.
The Directorate General of Training has also entered into partnerships with technology companies including IBM, Cisco, Microsoft and AWS to strengthen industry linkages and provide modern technology training.
For Tamil Nadu’s youth, the message is unmistakable:
A degree can open a door. A futuristic skill can open an entire industry.
Apprenticeships: The bridge to self-reliance
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is designed to help young people gain industry-relevant skills through on-the-job training.
Tamil Nadu’s 27,404 apprentices engaged in FY 2025-26 reflect the scale of this opportunity.
Apprenticeships can provide young people with:
- Practical workplace experience
- Industry exposure
- Technical skills
- Professional discipline
- Employment opportunities
- A foundation for entrepreneurship
The Government has been organising Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas since June 2022 to expand outreach, connect employers with candidates and facilitate apprenticeship opportunities.
For a young person, the first apprenticeship can become the first step towards a career—and for an ambitious entrepreneur, the first step towards understanding an industry well enough to build a business.
‘Don’t just look for a job—build a capability’
The Government has established District Skill Committees to identify local employment opportunities, skilling demand and available training infrastructure.
Sector Skill Councils, led by industry experts, assess skill requirements and determine competency standards.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training has approved 10,209 qualifications based on industry requirements, of which 2,975 are currently valid and active.
These measures are designed to ensure that training is aligned with actual industry demand.
For Tamil Nadu’s youth, the challenge now is to seize the opportunity.
Learn GIS. Master drones. Understand AI. Explore space data. Build software. Enter electronics. Take an apprenticeship. Start a venture.
The new economy will reward those who are prepared before the opportunity arrives.
The next big career may be built in Tamil Nadu
IN-SPACe has also conducted student competitions including IN-SPACe CANSAT India and a model rocketry student competition, besides offering internships and immersion opportunities to college students.
Such initiatives are designed to nurture interest in space technology and provide students with practical exposure.
The road from a student project to a start-up is no longer as long as it once was.
With the right skills, mentorship, technology and determination, a Tamil Nadu youngster can move from a classroom experiment to a product, from an apprenticeship to a profession and from a job seeker to a job creator.
Tamil Nadu’s 27,404 apprentices, 530 training centres and 668 NAPS establishments are more than statistics. They are potential launchpads for a generation that can make the State a powerhouse of space, geospatial and deep-tech talent.
