MSDE to Hold Jan Shikshan Sansthan Zonal Conference and Review Workshop in Pune

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, will organise a two-day Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Zonal Conference-cum-Stakeholder Consultation and Progress Review Workshop on January 19–20, 2026, at the Auditorium Hall, Symbiosis Skill and Professional University, Pune.

The Conference will bring together representatives from 152 Jan Shikshan Sansthans representing 11 States and Union Territories, along with officials from MSDE, the Directorate of Jan Shikshan Sansthan, the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, and other key stakeholders.

Implemented by MSDE through non-governmental organisations, the Jan Shikshan Sansthan Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at providing non-formal vocational training to non-literate and neo-literate persons, school dropouts, and marginalised communities, with a special focus on women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, and disadvantaged groups. Currently, 294 JSSs operate across 26 States and 7 Union Territories, delivering training in 51 NSQF-aligned courses.

As on December 31, 2025, the Scheme has trained more than 34 lakh beneficiaries, including 28.3 lakh women. Training is primarily delivered at the doorstep level through sub-centres, particularly in aspirational districts, tribal regions, left-wing extremism affected areas, border areas, and remote locations.

The Conference will review physical and financial progress during FY 2025–26, facilitate stakeholder consultations on policy and implementation challenges, build capacities of JSS functionaries, and identify emerging skill areas, including the integration of artificial intelligence and digital tools. The programme will include capacity-building sessions, an exposure visit to skill laboratories, and a product exhibition, with outcomes to be consolidated during the Valedictory Session on January 20, 2026.