India’s stainless steel industry expects to grow eight to nine per cent year-on-year in the coming years. The sector now moves through a phase of major change as demand quickens and innovation accelerates. Jindal Stainless, India’s largest stainless steel maker, strengthens this shift through its Stainless Academy.

The initiative supports students, young professionals, and MSMEs with practical knowledge and modern skills. It also builds category awareness at the grassroots level. As a result, the company strengthens the entire stainless steel value chain and encourages sustainable growth.

Since launch, the Stainless Academy has trained over 60,000 MSME fabricators. It has also reached nearly 9,000 students in engineering and polytechnic colleges through dedicated stainless steel courses. Moreover, the Academy has run several industry sessions to promote wider sector readiness. The company now aims to train more than 5 lakh MSMEs across the country.

Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director of Jindal Stainless, said the future of an Atmanirbhar Bharat depends on strong human capital. He added that the Stainless Academy builds this strength by fostering skill, knowledge, and excellence across the value chain.

The Stainless Academy follows a broad training model. It shares industry insights, encourages innovation, and equips participants with future-ready skills.

The Academy partners with top institutions like IITs, NITs, and leading polytechnic colleges. These institutes offer specialised stainless steel courses that prepare students for modern industry needs. For instance, Jindal Stainless recently signed an MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya in Vadodara. Classes began this month for advanced research and training in areas like transportation, infrastructure, and logistics.

Meanwhile, the Academy conducts hands-on programmes for MSME fabricators across India. These programmes increase awareness of stainless steel’s advantages and help fabricators make informed choices. The Fabricator Training Programmes (FTPs) cover fabrication techniques, design, and quality standards. The Academy also runs downstream industry programmes that strengthen workforce capability through workshops and classroom sessions.

Furthermore, industry sessions help enterprises modernise operations, adopt digital tools, and raise productivity to stay competitive globally.

The Stainless Academy plans to train over five lakh MSMEs by 2030. It now expands its network across key stainless steel hubs such as Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and West Bengal. This expansion helps both urban and rural communities access modern skilling opportunities.

Jindal said stainless steel supports almost every major sector of the nation. He noted that the industry must grow along with its skills. He also stressed that the Academy promotes continuous learning to meet new technologies and processes. The goal, he said, is to prepare not just today’s workforce but also tomorrow’s.