A Toyota Kaushalya trainee tops India’s national vocational exam and is honored by PM Modi, highlighting the success of the automaker’s “Learn and Earn” skill development initiative.
08 Oct 2025 | 1714 Views | By Shristi Ohri
A trainee from Toyota Kirloskar Motor's skill development program has been recognized as the national topper in a government training examination, receiving the honor directly from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Manjunatha S, who underwent training through the Toyota Kaushalya program under the Flexi MoU Scheme, secured the top ...
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A trainee from Toyota Kirloskar Motor's skill development program has been recognized as the national topper in a government training examination, receiving the honor directly from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Manjunatha S, who underwent training through the Toyota Kaushalya program under the Flexi MoU Scheme, secured the top position nationally in the All India Trade Test conducted by the Directorate General of Training (DGT) in October 2024. The examination is part of the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS), a government initiative for vocational training.
The Prime Minister presented the award to Manjunatha during the Kaushal Dikshant Samaroh ceremony held on October 4, 2025, in New Delhi. He was the sole candidate from Karnataka to receive the distinction at the national level.
According to G. Shankara, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Manjunatha demonstrated proficiency in technical skills including assembly operations, safety protocols, and quality standards throughout his training period.
The Toyota Kaushalya initiative is structured as a two-year "Learn and Earn" program that combines practical industrial experience with classroom instruction at the Toyota Technical Training Institute, located at the company's factory premises. The curriculum allocates 60 percent of training time to developing discipline, safety awareness, ethics, and workplace values, while the remaining 40 percent focuses on technical craftsmanship skills.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan (89% equity) and Kirloskar Systems Limited of India (11% equity), operates two manufacturing plants in Bidadi with a combined installed production capacity of up to 342,000 units annually. The company employs approximately 6,000 people across its operations.
The recognition aligns with the government's Skill India Mission, which aims to enhance vocational training and employability for the country's youth population.