Economic Survey 2026: Upgrade ITI diplomas to degrees to improve jobs, unify apprenticeship schemes

Economic Survey 2026: Upgrade ITI Diplomas to Degrees to Improve Jobs, Unify Apprenticeship Schemes

The Economic Survey 2026, presented in parliament on Thursday, suggests upgrading diploma programmes offered in Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) to bachelor degrees to enhance employability and make vocational pathways more attractive. The survey also emphasizes the need for a unified apprenticeship scheme.

ITI Diplomas to Degrees: Enhancing Prestige

The survey presents two arguments in favor of upgrading ITI diplomas to degrees. Firstly, degree-equivalent recognition can enhance the reputation and social prestige of vocational tracks in a country where families often equate degrees with status and opportunities. Secondly, the change can enhance academic mobility, enabling lateral entry into higher education, professional certifications, or engineering pathways that were previously closed to vocational graduates.

Unifying Apprenticeship Schemes

The Economic Survey notes that numerous lacunae persist in every part of the skill development system despite multiple schemes and initiatives floated to fix them. The survey suggests that a unified apprenticeship scheme can help address these issues and make skilling work for upskilling and employability.

Odisha's Efforts

The India Economic Survey speaks favorably of Odisha's effort to revamp ITIs. As per the survey, Odisha started its skill transformation with the establishment of the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) in 2016. The OSDA followed a simple strategy, 'Fix, Accelerate, Scale,' to 'Skill in Odisha.' The programme sought to build confidence in the system by highlighting alumni success, changing uniforms, organizing festivals, and global exposure. Skill development schemes were scaled up, and alumni were deployed to raise awareness.

Importance for Students

This recommendation is crucial for students pursuing vocational training in ITIs. Upgrading ITI diplomas to degrees can enhance their employability and provide them with better career prospects. A unified apprenticeship scheme can also help students gain practical experience and skills that are in demand by industries.

Importance for the Country

This recommendation is significant for the country as it can help address the issue of skill gap and make India a hub for vocational training. A unified apprenticeship scheme can also help in creating a pool of skilled workers that can cater to the needs of industries and contribute to the country's economic growth.