Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary on Monday inaugurated a new Skill India Centre (SIC) in Baraut, Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, targeting rural youth and women with training in electronics and IT-ITeS sectors.

The centre, set up by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in partnership with Redington Foundation, aims to train around 600 candidates from the underprivileged sections of Baraut and neighbouring Chhaprauli blocks.

A hub-and-spoke model will operate with the main facility in Baraut and a spoke centre in Chhaprauli to extend last-mile access.

“This initiative strengthens the government’s mission of building a technologically empowered workforce that can support India’s expanding digital and electronics ecosystem,” Vaishnaw said at the inauguration.

“When quality skilling reaches rural districts, it unlocks aspirations and accelerates social transformation.”

Jayant Chaudhary highlighted the broader socio-economic impact, stating, “Skilling is not just about employment—it is about dignity, mobility, and confidence. This centre will become a gateway of new possibilities for young people in the region.”

The curriculum focuses on high-demand areas in electronics manufacturing and IT-enabled services, aligning with national priorities under the Skill India and Digital India programmes.

Redington Foundation’s Global Chief Sustainability Officer R. Venkatesh said the partnership “reaffirms our commitment to unlock impact by equipping rural and underprivileged youth with future-ready, job-oriented skills” in advanced electronics and IT domains.

Early results from the collaboration are encouraging: 72 candidates from Baghpat trained under Redington Foundation’s CSR programme have already secured placements in reputed organisations.

The Baraut centre is part of a wider push to expand skilling infrastructure in rural Uttar Pradesh and bridge the urban-rural digital divide through industry-aligned training and employment linkages.