Avinyum's response to the draft National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2025

Policy feedback: Embedding execution discipline to the draft National policy for skill development and entrepreneurship

I. Introduction

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the draft National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2025 (NPSDE 2025). The policy’s ambition to empower Indians as lifelong learners and job creators is commendable. Its emphasis on convergence, scale, digital integration, and global mobility reflects a forward-looking and inclusive approach.

However, we wish to highlight a foundational cultural and behavioural gap that, unless explicitly addressed, will limit the effectiveness of even the best-designed skilling programs. This gap is the absence of execution discipline — or what we term a missing "closure culture." It refers to the systemic failure to finish tasks thoroughly, safely, and responsibly — and it is a national challenge.

II. The Execution Deficit: A Cultural Blind Spot

India suffers from a normalised culture of incompleteness across its workforce. The symptoms are visible everywhere:

• A road is repaired but left uncleaned.

• Electrical wires are fixed but not secured.

• Code is written but left untested or undocumented.

• Tools are scattered instead of being restored.

• Surgery is completed but basic hygiene ignored.

These are not one-off errors. They are rooted in how we teach, manage, and reward work — at every level of the skill pyramid.

The Role of Job Fragmentation

This problem is further compounded by how job roles are narrowly defined and fragmented. Take the case of municipal garbage collection: the driver only drives, loaders only lift, and no one cleans the vehicle. Everyone performs their “piece,” but no one is accountable for the final output.

Such fragmentation undermines accountability and pride in work. A more effective model would assign end-to-end task ownership to an individual or team for an entire operation — from execution to cleanup. This builds intrinsic motivation and professionalism.

Supported by Motivation Science

Motivation science confirms this. Studies such as Hackman & Oldham’s Job Characteristics Theory (1976) and Deci & Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory (1985) show that when individuals are entrusted with whole, meaningful tasks, they exhibit:

• Higher quality work

• Stronger intrinsic motivation

• Greater job satisfaction and accountability

To truly transform India’s workforce, we must teach skills and build habits of closure, responsibility, and pride in a job well done.

III. Where the Policy Falls Short

The current draft addresses scale, convergence, and digital enablement — but it lacks a focus on execution culture, closure behaviour, and end-to-end responsibility. These omissions risk producing a workforce that is trained but not trusted — capable but not dependable.

IV. Recommendation: Make Execution Discipline Foundational

We propose embedding “Closure Discipline and Execution Ethics” as a core foundational competency across all NSQF levels, trades, and curricula.

Key behaviours include:

• Completing the task to final specification

• Cleaning up and restoring workspaces

• Performing handoff, safety, and quality checks

• Returning tools and resetting equipment

• Avoiding “almost done” outcomes

Additionally, job descriptions should be redefined to enable end-to-end ownership and combine fragmented responsibilities.These behavioural competencies should be integrated into training content, certification criteria, and workplace assessments.

V. A Global Blueprint: The German “Meister” System

India can draw from the world-renowned German Meister (Master Craftsman) system, which has successfully embedded professionalism, closure culture, and skill pride.

Key Features to Emulate:

1.    Rigorous Apprenticeship Under a MasterStructured mentorship ensures skills are transferred with discipline and attention to detail.

2.    Business and Teaching Skills Meisters are trained in pedagogy, business ethics, and documentation — creating holistic professionals.

3.    End-to-End Project-Based AssessmentCandidates must complete and present a real project — teaching execution from planning to delivery.

4.    Public Prestige and Recognition Meisters enjoy social status on par with engineers. India should similarly rebrand skilled trades.

VI. Proposal: Indian Meister Track (IMT)

We recommend piloting a formal Indian Meister Track (IMT) with the following features:

• 3-year advanced certification under NSDC or NCVET

• Mandatory apprenticeship under senior certified professionals

• Training in business conduct, documentation, and mentorship

• Final “masterpiece” project demonstrating end-to-end task ownership

• Listing in a public registry and title usage (e.g., "Meister Plumber")

• Inclusion in the National Credit Framework (NCrF)

This could be developed with support from Germany’s BIBB or Indo-German Chambers of Commerce.

VII. National Behaviour Change Campaign: “Kaam Pura Karo”

We propose a public movement titled “Kaam Pura Karo” (Finish the Job Right) modelled after Swachh Bharat — to embed closure pride culturally.

Campaign elements may include:

• Public stories of professional craftsmanship

• Recognition programs for “Closure Champions” in workplaces

• Visual storytelling contrasting “chalta hai” vs. “kaam poora”

• Youth engagement through apps, gamification, and school challenges

• Workplace nudges (e.g., badges, checklists, team-based closure scores)

VIII. Institutionalization and Monitoring

To ensure sustained adoption:

• Mandate a “Completion Quality Index” in skill certifications

• Require workspace restoration protocols in all ITIs and PMKVY projects

• Have Sector Skill Councils design closure standards by domain

• Encourage industry to report completion metrics in dashboards

• Create task ownership-based assessments for employers and contractors

IX. Conclusion: From Skills to Professionalism

India has proven its ability to scale skill development. Now it must become a nation trusted for completion, precision, and quality By embedding closure discipline into our curriculum, adopting the German Meister philosophy, and redesigning job roles around full accountability, we can create a globally respected, future-ready workforce.

This is more than policy. It is nation-building at the behavioural level.