AP to launch ‘Naipunyam’ portal on Sept 1 to train youth in industry skills

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is all set to launch a new skill development portal, Naipunyam (skill in Telugu), on September 1, aimed at equipping the State’s youth with industry-relevant skills, particularly in emerging sectors like green and renewable energy.

Bridge for youth needing jobs

Announcing the initiative at the Green Energy Conference in Vijayawada on Wednesday, Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh said the portal would serve as a critical bridge between skilled youth and job opportunities, both in India and abroad.

“We are aligning skill development with global market needs. The Naipunyam portal will connect our talent pool with the private sector, enabling direct access to training and employment,” Lokesh said.

‘20 lakh jobs in 5 years’

The portal will be operated in collaboration with the AP Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and C-DAC, offering tailored training in areas such as solar energy, wind energy, electronics manufacturing, and compressed bio-gas (CBG).

Lokesh reiterated the coalition government’s commitment to generating 20 lakh jobs over the next five years, a key electoral promise. “This is an ambitious target, but we’re putting in place the infrastructure, policy, and partnerships required to achieve it,” he said.

He further briefed the gathering about the government’s plans to develop sector-specific industrial clusters across the state to decentralise economic development and attract private investment.

Kurnool as a renewable energy hub

Citing examples of the clusters being developed by the government, the Minister said the cluster in Anantapur will focus on automobile manufacturing.

Kurnool will become a renewable energy hub. Kadapa and Chittoor are being positioned for electronics manufacturing. Nellore will host specialised manufacturing, including air conditioning units.

Prakasam will develop as a CBG hub. Guntur and Krishna districts are planned as ‘Quantum Valley’ hubs. North Andhra will see focus on pharma, IT, data centres, and medical device manufacturing.

Each cluster is expected to generate high-quality employment, with skill development integrated into the industrial planning process, the minister apprised.