Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship(MGNF) Programme

News:The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has signed a contract with Indian Institute of Management(IIM)-Bangalore to launch a new programme ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF)’.

Facts:

About Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship(MGNF):

• Aim:The program aims to address the challenge of non-availability of personnel for implementation of various programmes at national, state and district levels.
• Implementation:The two-year Fellowship programme will be delivered by IIMB’s Centre of Public Policy(CPP).
• CPP is an independent public interest-oriented policy think-tank engaged in research, teaching, training, and capacity-building.
• Eligibility:Those who have a graduate degree from a recognised university and are citizens of India in the age group of 21-30 years will be eligible to apply for it.

Features of the programme:

• The programme will identify and train a group of young, committed and dynamic individuals who will use the IIMB ecosystem to work with the district administration in strengthening the process of skilling to create a vibrant local district economy.
• It will be launched on a pilot basis in 75 districts in 6 states including Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• It has been designed under Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion(SANKALP).

Additional information:

About SANKALP:

• SANKALP is an outcome-oriented programme of Ministry of Skills Development & Entrepreneurship(MSDE) with a special focus on decentralised planning and quality improvement.
• The project is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and is implemented in mission mode through World Bank support.
• The project aims to implement the mandate of the National Skill Development Mission(NSDM).
• The main objectives of SANKALP include (a)Institutional Strengthening (at National, State & District level) (b) Quality Assurance of skill development programs (c) Inclusion of marginalised population in skill development and (d) Expanding Skills through Public Private Partnerships(PPPs).