New Delhi: The platform will offer industry-focused programmes in niche technologies such as AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Semiconductors, and allied fields. It will provide flexible digital learning modes and virtual labs to equip youth with future-ready skills.
The Union Minister also virtually inaugurated five new NIELIT Centres at Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Balasore (Odisha), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Daman (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu), and Lunglei (Mizoram). With the addition of these new Centres, NIELIT continues to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s technological future. During the launch event, Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were also exchanged between NIELIT and Microsoft, Zscaler, CCRYN, Dixon Tech and Future Crime.
During the event, SAshwini Vaishnaw said, ‘Three years ago, a decision was taken to establish a Digital University. There were many options on the table, but the best choice was NIELIT. We must prepare a list of 500 industry partners — and they don’t necessarily have to be only from electronics or IT. These technologies are now used across every sector. Wherever electronics and IT are in use, our goal must be to train and prepare students to meet those specific demands. Today, the electronics manufacturing sector alone has grown into an industry worth Rs 13 lakh crore. I firmly believe that NIELIT will achieve even greater milestones in the near future.’
Highlighting the importance of the MoUs, the Union Minister said that these MoUs will play a pivotal role in strengthening industry-academia collaboration. He further stressed that NIELIT should engage in talks with the Top 500 Companies and sign MoUs while following the motto “YOU DECIDE WHAT TO TEACH”, to align NIELIT courses with industry requirements.
He further added that the Hon’ble Prime Minister had placed a grand vision before us — to build a digital university that would be closely aligned with industry. Just like the Gati Shakti University in the transport sector is directly linked with industry, we have the same dream for NIELIT: to make it an institution deeply connected with industrial needs.
S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, described the launch of the NDU platform as a very significant event, given the availability of a broader range of courses. He emphasised that NIELIT has centres even in extremely difficult terrains, where there is a scarcity of good educational and training institutions, and that NIELIT is playing a pivotal role in providing technical education to the remotest areas through state-of-the-art infrastructure. With the launch of the NDU platform, NIELIT will act as a catalyst in bridging the gap between skill and employability.
He further commended that the courses offered by NIELIT in Electronics are well-balanced in terms of both Design and Manufacturing, and with this momentum, NIELIT can play a key role in Electronics Manufacturing in the coming years.
Nationwide Unity in Digital Progress: MPs and MLAs Join NIELIT celebration, highlighting north-east connectivity
The event also witnessed the participation of MPs and MLAs from various NIELIT Centres across the country. Among those who joined virtually were Shri Vijendra Choudhary, Hon’ble MLA, and Shri Kedar Prasad Gupta, Hon’ble Panchayati Raj Minister from Muzaffarpur; Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Hon’ble MP from Balasore; Shri T. Lalhlimpuia, Hon’ble MLA from Lunglei West; Shri Umesh Bhai Patel, Hon’ble MP from Daman; and Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy, Hon’ble MP from Tirupati.
Making a special mention of the North-East location, Lunglei in Mizoram, the Union Minister highlighted that the region is now digitally connected, following the addition of railway connectivity to the state a few months earlier.
Over 1,500 participants took part in the event, including NIELIT students from across India, eminent academicians, and technological experts. The event also featured dedicated stalls showcasing NIELIT’s strengths in skilling and learning models across various verticals of Electronics and Information Technology.
The launch event was followed by an insightful panel discussion on “Role of AI in Digitalisation of Education”. The session featured Sweta Khurana, Sr Director, Intel; Ashish Tiwari, Head, Responsible AI, Infosys; Prof Prabhat Ranjan, Chairman (R&D, IR), Dr DY Patil Pratishthan; Vinnie Jauhari, Director, Education Industry, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd.; Rishi Mohan Bhatnagar, Co-Founder and MD, India and Global CTO AA2IT; Ashish Gupta, Vice President and Head of Software Development, Barco Electronics. The panel deliberated on aligning skilling initiatives with industry & market trends, expanding WBL opportunities, and strengthening pathways for the employability of Indian youth.
The NIELIT Digital University Platform (ndu.digital) has been developed with the vision of creating a world-class, inclusive, affordable, and employment-oriented digital learning ecosystem. Its purpose is to democratise access to high-quality digital education, support the goals of Digital India, NEP 2020, and Skill India, and build a globally competitive workforce in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors, Cyber Security, and Cloud Computing. The platform offers NCVET-approved, NSQF-aligned programmes with credit transfer through the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), industry-integrated courses, virtual labs, multilingual learning, and verifiable digital certificates. With AI-driven tools like career pathways, mentors, interview simulators, and interactive modules, the platform aims to empower learners across India, targeting 40 lakh learners by 2030.