Generation India for a Greener Economy: Where Skilling Meets Sustainability
By Arunesh Singh, CEO – Generation India
As we commemorate World Environment Day 2025, the theme of sustainable development is more than just a global call to action—it is a reminder that the future of our planet is deeply connected to the skills and aspirations of our youth. India, home to the world’s largest young population, has a singular opportunity: to equip this generation not just for jobs, but for jobs that matter—those that contribute to a greener, more resilient economy.
At Generation India Foundation, we believe that sustainability and employability go hand in hand. As we work to prepare young people for meaningful careers, we are increasingly aligning our skilling efforts with sectors that are both economically significant and environmentally critical.
Green Growth Begins with a Skilled Workforce
India’s transition to a green economy is already underway. The government’s ambitious targets on renewable energy, electric mobility, and sustainable infrastructure are unlocking massive employment potential. But to harness this opportunity, we need to address a key gap: the lack of industry-aligned, job-ready skills, particularly among underserved youth.
Generation India’s Commitment: Skills with Purpose
At Generation India Foundation, our mission is to transform education-to-employment systems. We support young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, by equipping them with the technical, behavioural, and mindset skills they need to launch meaningful careers.
Our programs focus on high-demand roles that drive inclusive growth. And as part of our commitment to sustainability, we have introduced skilling for the role of Solar PV Installer, a vital component of the green jobs ecosystem.
While our green jobs programs like Solar PV are explicit examples, sustainability is not limited to energy or environment sectors. Beyond this, our programs incorporate sustainability principles through:
- Job-role relevance and efficiency: We offer short, focused boot camps (6–12 weeks) that quickly prepare learners for real-world employment, reducing time and resource consumption compared to traditional academic pathways.
- Digital-first models: Several of our programs are delivered in fully online or blended formats, helping reduce the carbon footprint associated with physical infrastructure while reaching learners in remote areas.
- Behavioural and mindset training: Our curriculum nurtures traits such as resilience, growth mindset, accountability, and professionalism, aligning with responsible citizenship and long-term sustainability in any workplace.
Our Learners: Resilience and Adaptability in Action
Since our launch in 2015, over 56,000 learners across India have graduated from Generation India programs. Many have overcome significant personal and socio-economic barriers to access life-changing employment.
One such learner is Anurag Singh from Chhapra, Bihar. After enrolling in our Solar PV Installer program, Anurag not only gained technical skills and workplace readiness but also found a purpose-driven career in clean energy. Today, he supports solar projects as part of the maintenance team at Mundra Solar Pvt. Ltd., contributing directly to India’s renewable energy transition.
“I see my job not just as employment, but as my way of contributing to a greener future.”
— Anurag Singh, Generation India Learner
The Path Forward: Scaling What Works
To meaningfully support India’s transition to a green economy, it is vital to embed sustainability principles within skilling design, program delivery, and employer engagement. At Generation India, we are actively exploring ways to:
- Identify high-potential job roles in green and climate-aligned sectors
- Co-develop curricula with employers and ecosystem partners to ensure future readiness
- Apply our proven methodology, bootcamp-based, activity-driven, and employer-validated, to emerging green job tracks
- Strengthen data systems to track long-term employment outcomes and explore environmental alignment over time
We believe this is not just a development challenge—it’s a shared national mission. And it will require collective action.
A National Mission Requires Collective Action
To fully realize the promise of green growth, we need collaborative action from all stakeholders:
- Government must continue to invest in green skilling under initiatives like PMKVY 4.0 and Mission LiFE.
- Corporates and funders should support scalable skilling models aligned with sustainability outcomes.
- Training providers need to evolve curricula to include green principles and technical competencies.
Generation India is proud to be part of this movement, working with public and private partners to bridge the green skills gap and ensure that no young person is left behind in this transition.
Conclusion: Skills for Today, Sustainability for Tomorrow
This World Environment Day, as the world rallies to “beat plastic pollution” and protect the planet, let’s remember real change happens when we empower people with the right tools. At Generation India, we’re building those tools every day—through skills, support, and purpose-driven pathways to employment. Because when we invest in youth, we invest in the planet.