By Nisha Singh
In a world where jobs are evolving faster than ever, true empowerment comes not just from finding employment but from creating opportunities. Across India, thousands of aspiring individuals, young graduates, women from self-help groups (SHGs), street vendors and mid-career professionals are discovering this power through the Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council (MEPSC).
As a horizontal Sector Skill Council under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), MEPSC has spent over a decade turning skill development into a launchpad for entrepreneurship, fostering self-reliance, innovation and inclusive growth.
Since its inception in 2015 as a Section 8 not-for-profit company in a unique public-private partnership with the All India Management Association (AIMA) as sole promoter, MEPSC has focused on five key areas: Training & Assessment, Management, Professional Skills (including security), Office Management and most crucially, Entrepreneurship.
The vision is clear: bridge the gap between education and real-world application by developing Qualification Packs (QPs) aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
Today, with over 10 lakh+ assessments completed, 700+ training partners and 55+ qualifications, MEPSC is not just skilling people; it is building entrepreneurs who drive India’s economy from the grassroots up.
FROM STREET VENDORS TO CERTIFIED NANO ENTREPRENEURS
One of MEPSC’s most inspiring contributions is supporting the informal economy. Consider the Nano Entrepreneur (Street Vendor) qualification at NSQF Level 3. This program equips individuals operating mobile stalls or headloads with essential business skills: inventory management, customer service, basic finance, hygiene standards and digital literacy.
What was once an uncertain daily hustle transforms into a structured business. MEPSC has extended this impact through targeted Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDPs).
In one notable initiative, MEPSC conducted an EDP for over 510 women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) across 17 locations in Assam. The participants gained practical skills in marketing, packaging, digital literacy, financial literacy and basic accounting, empowering them to launch or expand their micro-enterprises with greater confidence.
MEPSC has also empowered Women Artisans through focused skill-building initiatives. Over 400 candidates in Uttar Pradesh benefited from packaging and design programs under the comprehensive Entrepreneurship Development Programmes.
These initiatives, aligned with 16 ODOP (One District One Product) clusters, helped artisans improve product quality, branding and market access. Industry visits provided valuable real-world exposure to supply chains, quality standards and buyer expectations.
“A woman in a rural district who turns her tailoring skills into a thriving home-based business, or a youth who formalises a small vending operation and accesses government schemes with newfound credibility”. Stories like these echo across the country.
These efforts go beyond training. By creating standards that recognise prior learning and experience, MEPSC ensures that even those with limited formal education, such as 5th to 8th graders with relevant field exposure, can earn certifications that open doors to credit, markets and growth.
The message is powerful: entrepreneurship is not reserved for the elite; it is accessible to anyone with determination and the right skills.
IGNITING YOUNG MINDS AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
MEPSC’s reach extends to campuses and institutions, where it nurtures the next generation of innovators. Through Ideathons, innovation platforms and partnerships with universities and colleges, it encourages students to view entrepreneurship as a viable career.
A significant recent milestone is the establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurial Skills and Policy (CEESP) with IIM Visakhapatnam in February 2026.
This centre focuses on research, mentorship, incubation and policy discourse, building an ecosystem where ideas translate into sustainable enterprises.
Building on this institutional foundation, MEPSC ignites young minds at the school and college level through dynamic innovation platforms.
Its flagship School Youth Ideathon (in partnership with ThinkStartup and CBSE) is India’s largest entrepreneurship competition for school students (Classes 4–12).
It encourages participants to develop market-ready ideas around themes like innovation, problem-solving and social impact. The program nurtures entrepreneurial thinking from an early age, with thousands of students presenting ideas that often evolve into viable startup concepts.
MEPSC also supports the College Youth Ideathon, extending this momentum to higher education.
MEASURABLE IMPACT, ENDURING LEGACY
In its first decade, MEPSC has trained and certified more than 10 lakh+ beneficiaries, creating a strong foundation of skilled and aspiring entrepreneurs across the country. With a robust network of 700+ training partners and 55+ qualifications, the Council has touched lives in 36+ States and Union Territories.
As MEPSC steps into its second decade following the grand celebration of its 10th Foundation Day on 17th March 2026, it carries forward renewed momentum backed by the launch of the CEESP with IIM Visakhapatnam and the inspiring journey of impact.
The human stories behind the numbers are what make MEPSC’s work truly motivational.
– A street vendor who gains business acumen and confidence.
– A woman entrepreneur from an SHG who breaks cycles of dependency.
– A young professional who pivots from job-seeking to job-creating.
MEPSC’s approach emphasises transversal skills,communication, problem-solving, financial literacy and digital readiness that prepare individuals not just for today’s market, but for tomorrow’s uncertainties.
As India aspires to become a global leader in innovation and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), initiatives like MEPSC play a pivotal role. They align with the Skill India Mission by making vocational education aspirational, industry-relevant and outcome-oriented.
By strengthening skills in the informal sector, empowering women and youth and fostering policy-level thought leadership, MEPSC is helping build a resilient talent pool that responds to emerging technologies and changing economies.
A CALL TO ASPIRE AND ACT
Whether through short-term NSQF-aligned programs, EDP workshops or higher-level certifications in business analytics, project management or entrepreneurial leadership, opportunities abound.
MEPSC reminds us that skills are the foundation of dignity, opportunity and progress. Every certified entrepreneur is a testament to what is possible when vision meets action. As MEPSC steps into its second decade with renewed energy through new centres of excellence, expanded partnerships and future-ready qualifications, the journey continues.
India doesn’t just need more jobs. It needs more job creators. And through its focused, practical and inclusive initiatives, MEPSC is proudly answering that call: one entrepreneur at a time.
(The writer is working as the General Manager- Brand & Corporate Communication at MESPC)
