PLI, EVs, and Skill Development Highlighted at ASDC Annual Partners Forum 2025

The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) hosted its Annual Partners Forum 2025 at The Grand Hotel, New Delhi, with the theme “Stronger Together, Transform Tomorrow.” The event brought together over 250 participants from industry, government, and academia to explore ways to shape the future of India’s automotive sector.

The forum was inaugurated by Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries; Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE; and Dr. Rodney Riviere, Cluster Coordinator, GIZ India. Dr. Suhas Deshmukh, Director, NCVET, attended as Special Guest.

In his keynote, Dr. Qureshi noted the automotive sector’s contribution of over $240 billion to the economy and 42% of manufacturing output. He highlighted the government's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2070 and noted that the ₹26,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has encouraged over 12 companies to meet the 50% domestic value addition target. He stressed the need for skill development to enhance India’s role in the $700 billion global auto components market.

Prof. Sitharam spoke about the importance of developing innovation-led, globally competitive products for India’s future and urged increased participation in skilling programs focused on emerging technologies such as robotics. Dr. Deshmukh outlined the role of NEP 2020 in making technical education more inclusive and industry-aligned.

ASDC President F. R. Singhvi emphasized collaboration between industry and academia and highlighted the importance of soft skills alongside technical training. Dr. Riviere remarked on the complementary role of AI in enhancing human capabilities in the automotive industry.

The event included MoU signings with various organisations, the Project Saksham convocation, and panel discussions on vocational education and sustainable skilling through CSR. The forum concluded with a shared resolve to advance India’s skilling ecosystem.