Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) is a Not‐for‐Profit Organization, registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956. ESSCI’s vision is to provide skill based training to 2 million candidates. It is working to realize this vision by aligning with industry and actively anchoring government programs for fresh training and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in the most qualitative manner adhering to the stringent National Occupation Standards (NOS). Mr. N K Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer, Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) had a conversation with Vaishali Umredkar, Executive Editor, Electronics Maker to know more about company initiatives, programs and discussed the Indian electronics industry overview.
According to you, what is the reality of Make in India initiative and what are the challenges? And how this will influence India Electronics industry growth?
The mission “Make in India” primarily aims at making India a global manufacturing hub, by encouraging both multinational as well as domestic companies to manufacture their products within the country. Led by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, the initiative aims to raise the contribution of the manufacturing sector to 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2025 from its current 16%. Make in India has introduced multiple new initiatives, promoting foreign direct investment, implementing intellectual property rights and developing the manufacturing sector. The government has drawn a roadmap and laid out attractive schemes and programmes to support investments in the electronics sector an attractive proposition.
India is one of the fastest growing markets for electronics. The electronic market is slated for a unprecedented growth and the demand for electronic goods is increasing with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22% and is expected to touch 400 Billion USD by 2020. Indian government is therefore taking several steps to promote manufacturing and investment in this sector, which puts India high on the list of potential places to invest.
The government is striving to give a boost to the electronics sector manufacturing in India and has developed a comprehensive plan to realise the vision of making the country self-reliant and with a target NET ZERO Imports by 2020 demonstrates the intent of the Government of India. Several policy and regulatory initiatives has been taken in this direction and the electronics industry is geared towards meeting the challenges of future growth.
There are various sectors and areas in India that drives the electronics industry growth. According to you which are the major applications to drive the highest growth?
There is going be an exponential growth in the consumer electronics space and growth is going to ride on back of emerging market like IOT, AI, Industry 4.0 and design driving maximum growth out of sectors like consumer electronics, IT hardware appliances, SET-TOP boxes, DTH. There is also going to be a big growth in e-vehicles. A lot of electronics come into the e-vehicles.
What are the challenges for the new coming market electric vehicles?
The price of the hydro carbons are increasing and there are serious issues of air pollution and environmental issues. The challenges faced by the country are proper design, manufacturing capacity, dealer network and also maintenance infrastructure. The Electric Market will grow but the industry will have to make ready the infrastructure. Also, the government policy has to be clear and regulator framework will have to be in place.
How ESSCI helps to drive the Make in India program?
The Electronics industry is expanding very rapidly and there is a huge opportunity for manufacturing emerging in India. The electronics design is a fast emerging field and a lot of scope in the country to support the national flagship programme like the Make in India and Digital India. We drive make in India program by creating job programs, and creating new enterprises, new companies to design new products indirectly. Regular things are not regular things for tomorrow. Everyday thing changes. We need to work for new technologies, new requirements, new things where R&D to make. It is appropriate campus capabilities to work like other countries in the world which are successful. Most of the innovations happen in campus.
Tell us about your activities?
‘Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI)’ is the sector-skill council for the Electronics Industry charted for developing various Skills required in the electronics systems from design to manufacturing including services. ESSCI is a Non–Profit Organization, registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956, and is promoted by six major Associations of ESDM Industry. It works under the guidelines of and is funded by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to implement Skill-Development programs.
ESSCI’s mandate is to establish a structured mechanism in strengthening the existing Vocational-Education & Industry-Oriented Training system to achieve global standards of workmanship and facilitate a world-class ecosystem for skill development in electronics sector.
To achieve the above, ESSCI has developed “Qualification-Packs (QPs)/National Occupational Standards (NOS)” for generating Training programs for Skill-Development for different Job-Roles in Electronics Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) Industry. These QPs/NOSs have been drafted by conducting enough research and analysis of the Labour Market Information System (LIMS) of the industry and by conducting Occupational mapping from Functional & Skill Gap Analysis.
What you would like to comment on academia support to drive design talent?
The academia has to focus on courses which have industry demand. The electronics industry is growing at a very fast pace and the academia must create infrastructure in new age courses and impart skill development on job roles which have emerging potential and are future demand ready. The academia must identify and focus on such courses.
What you would like to suggest to Govt to create the opportunities for India job market?
The whole eco-system has been carefully built to create a robust skilling environment. The ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been created to envision the skill development programme and National Skill Development Corporation created as an umbrella body to anchor and implement the government vision of a skilled India.
The government has identified key sectors and created Sector Skills Councils to develop a structured mechanism for skill based training and be a certifying authority under the NSQF. For the Electronics Sector the ‘Electronics Sector Skills Council of India has been created create the ecosystem for skilling the youth of India.
The government has to come forward and ensure the acceptability of NSQF among the academia and Industry. The industry must be incentivised or prevailed upon to hire NSQF certified workforce.
Any message would you like to give to young talents?
The Electronics hardware design is quite difficult work and there is a huge demand for the job role, not only in India but also abroad.
The youth must acquire skills and specially in the trade which are expected to grow and the youth will have big opportunities going forward and can make a career out of it.
ESSCI is committed for the up-liftment of the youth and has some fantastic job roles across the electronics life cycle form design, to manufacturing to installation and repair.
One must avail the benefits and acquire skills in electronics and make a career out of it.
