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Skills · 03

Job skills by sector

Not everyone wants a three-year degree first. India's Sector Skill Councils set the standards for hands-on jobs in each industry, and certify the people trained for them.

How it works, in four lines

12345678Simple, routine tasksExpert workNSQF levels

A skill certificate is not a degree. It is proof you can do a particular job, to a national standard. Many students do both: a degree, plus a short certified course in a job skill.

Skill subjects at school

CBSE offers skill subjects from Class 6. Each Class 9–12 subject is linked to a real job role and mapped to an NSQF level. Your school offers only some of them, so ask which.

Class 6–8: short skill modules

Artificial Intelligence · Coding · Financial Literacy · Design Thinking · Digital Citizenship · Mass Media · Photography · Baking · Pottery · Rockets and satellites

A sample of 34 modules. NEP 2020 also asks for 10 “bagless days” in Class 6–8, spent learning from local craftspeople and experts.

Class 9 (from 2026–27): one skill subject is now compulsory

Retail · Information Technology · Introduction to Financial Markets · Introduction to Tourism · Beauty & Wellness · Front Office Operations · Marketing & Sales · Artificial Intelligence

Every student takes Vocational Education (Kaushal Vikas). The subjects above are optional extras, if your school offers them. CBSE notification 88/2026.

Class 10 (current batch)

Information Technology · Artificial Intelligence · Data Science · Health Care · Agriculture · Food Production · Banking & Insurance · Electronics & Hardware · Physical Activity Trainer · Design Thinking & Innovation

A sample of 22 subjects in the 2025–26 list.

Class 11–12: 43 skill subjects

Artificial Intelligence · Data Science · Web Application · Taxation · Mass Media Studies · Fashion Studies · Geospatial Technology · Medical Diagnostics · Yoga · Early Childhood Care & Education

A sample of the full list.

A useful safety net in Class 10: if a student fails Science, Maths or Social Science but passes a skill subject taken as a sixth subject, the skill subject can take its place. (Last confirmed in CBSE's 2025–26 scheme; ask your school if it still applies to your batch.)

Choosing Class 9 subjects? Read our guide to Class 9 subjects.

All sectors, A to Z

The government counts 36 to 37 councils depending on the source; these are the 36 listed by NCVET, the national regulator. Tap a sector to see example jobs.

Got a skill certificate? Add it to your portfolio →

Apprenticeships: learn while you earn

You train at a real workplace and get a monthly stipend. Two government schemes:

  • National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS)For people aged 14 and above (18 for risky trades), in many industries. The government pays part of your monthly stipend, straight into your bank account. Ministry of Skill Development.Official site ↗
  • National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)For graduates, diploma holders and vocational certificate holders: 6 to 12 months at a company, with a stipend. Ministry of Education.Official site ↗

Degree, skill course, or both?

It depends on the job you want, how you like to learn and what your family can afford. Tell us where you are and we'll point you to one sensible next step.

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Sources · checked 17/10/2026

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