Jindal Stainless Gets NCVET Recognition to Strengthen Stainless Steel Workforce
India’s stainless steel industry is expanding across infrastructure, railways, renewable energy, mobility, manufacturing and other industrial applications, increasing the need for specialised skills across the value chain. Against this backdrop, Jindal Stainless has received recognition as an Awarding Body from the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), aimed at strengthening industry-led skill development in the sector.
Jindal Stainless formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NCVET, under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), on September 18, 2026. The recognition enables the company to develop and offer government-recognised, industry-led qualifications and certification programmes aligned with the evolving requirements of the stainless steel ecosystem.
Stainless Steel Industry Sees Growing Need for Skilled Workforce
India’s stainless steel industry is witnessing growing demand as the metal finds wider applications in railways, metros, infrastructure, renewable energy, coastal projects, advanced manufacturing and other sectors. Alongside this growth, workforce readiness has emerged as an important requirement for the industry’s continued development.
A recent Training Need Assessment commissioned by Jindal Stainless and conducted by PwC found that only one in three independent stainless steel fabricators surveyed were skilled. The study covered 1,904 respondents across nine states and also highlighted a gap between the industry’s growth ambitions and workforce readiness.
The need for specialised training extends across manufacturing, processing, fabrication and downstream applications, making industry-aligned education and certification increasingly relevant to the stainless steel value chain.
First Qualification Approved Under NCVET Framework
As part of its recognition, Jindal Stainless has received approval for its first qualification, “Stainless Steel Decorative Pipe & Tube Manufacturing Operator,” under the Capital Goods sector at NSQF Level 4.
The qualification is intended to provide trainees with specialised capabilities relevant to stainless steel manufacturing and processing, while establishing a structured pathway for industry-recognised skills.
The initiative builds on the company’s Stainless Academy, an education and skilling platform focused on developing blue- and white-collar talent for the stainless steel ecosystem. Its programmes include industry-aligned training, curriculum development, specialised courses for ITIs, polytechnics and engineering colleges, as well as MSME and fabricator-focused initiatives.
Building Industry-Aligned Skills
Jindal Stainless has been expanding its skilling initiatives as the stainless steel industry develops new applications and requirements. During FY26, the company trained more than 35,900 fabricators through its Fabrication Training Programmes and over 460 trainees through its Qualification Pack Training Programme. It also conducted stainless steel courses across engineering colleges, government polytechnics and ITIs.
The company had earlier stated that India’s stainless steel industry was expected to grow by 8–9% year-on-year over the following years, with rising demand and innovation creating a greater need for future-ready skills.
With NCVET recognition, Jindal Stainless can further formalise its role in developing qualifications that reflect the practical requirements of the industry while bringing together manufacturers, educational institutions, MSMEs and other stakeholders.
The development also comes as the Indian stainless steel sector focuses on strengthening its domestic capabilities, expanding applications and building a workforce equipped to support the industry’s next phase of growth.
