India is moving ahead with its clean energy plans by focusing on building a skilled workforce for the green hydrogen sector. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has invited proposals to roll out a nationwide program for skilling, upskilling, and reskilling people. The aim is to prepare around 600,000 trained professionals by 2030 who can support the country’s growing green hydrogen ecosystem.
The government has set aside a budget of ₹35 crore for this initiative, which will run until 2030. The program will focus on building training capacity across the country through state institutions, specialised Centres of Excellence, and accredited training centres. It is designed to be inclusive, allowing Indian citizens between 18 and 45 years of age to participate, while the upper age limit is extended to 50 years for certain upskilling courses. The training will cover all key areas of the hydrogen value chain, including production, storage, transportation, and safety practices.
The scheme is divided into three main parts to ensure a steady flow of skilled workers into the industry. The first part is Short-Term Training, which will offer modular courses lasting between 200 and 600 hours. These courses will also include mandatory on-the-job training so that participants can gain hands-on experience and understand real industry conditions.
The second part is Recognition of Prior Learning, which is aimed at people who are already working in related sectors. These short courses, ranging from 30 to 132 hours, will help workers upgrade their skills and receive formal certification. This will make it easier for them to move into more advanced roles within the green hydrogen sector.
The third part focuses on setting up up to five national-level Centres of Excellence. These centres will play an important role in developing advanced training programs, designing course content, and training instructors. They are expected to act as knowledge hubs for the sector and help maintain high training standards across the country.
States and Union Territories have been asked to submit proposals that include details about workforce demand and the readiness of institutions to deliver training. To ensure quality and transparency, all training activities will be monitored through the Skill India Digital platform. This system will track candidates for up to one year after certification, helping the government assess job placements and overall outcomes.
This initiative is closely linked to India’s larger goal of producing 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. At the same time, it supports a fair transition for workers by creating new job opportunities and helping existing workers adapt to the changing energy landscape.
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