Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Education, Jayant Chaudhary announced the launch of “IGNiTE 4.0”, a joint initiative of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Mercedes-Benz India, aimed at training 1,000 youth from underserved communities in cutting-edge automotive technologies.
Chaudhary said India must harness its growing youth population by fostering equity, inclusion, and opportunity. “Our institutions must think beyond cost competitiveness — we must lead on innovation, product development, and intellectual property creation,” he emphasized. The year-long programme, implemented by Kedman Skilling Pvt. Ltd., will train participants in Electric Vehicle (EV) technology, Industry 4.0 systems, and advanced automotive roles, ensuring at least 30% women’s participation. Training centres will be set up at Manav Rachna University (Delhi-NCR) and MIT ADT University (Pune). In Guwahati, the initiative could significantly boost demand for skilled manpower in Assam’s growing EV and auto service sectors. With more dealerships and EV charging hubs emerging in Guwahati, experts say the city’s youth stand to benefit from specialized training aligned with national standards. Mercedes-Benz India’s Executive Director & CFO Emrah Oezer said the programme aligns with the company’s global sustainability goals, creating aspirational career paths in India’s evolving mobility landscape.