Mainstreaming green skills in India: Theoretical lenses, institutional mechanisms and challenges in skill development

Developing green skills is critical as a prerequisite for facilitating the transition of India towards sustainability, low carbon emissions and resilience to climate change. With growing international concern over clean energy, ecological sustainability, and circular production, there is no doubt about the importance of acquiring competencies in these areas in India. The current paper is devoted to providing a comprehensive review of existing data on the topic of green skills development in India in terms of concepts, policies, sectors, and institutions. The review is grounded in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations, particularly SDG 4 (Quality education), SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate action). It is evident that despite the development of some programs (such as Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP), Greening Framework of NSDC, skilling in renewable energy and waste management) there remain numerous gaps. The challenges lie in regional imbalances and inadequate integration of green-skills competence in order to hinder equal progress. Despite the aforementioned obstacles, there are plenty of opportunities to use public- private partnerships, entrepreneurship among young people, e-learning and transition justice tools. The study concludes with a set of policy recommendations aimed at achieving a coherent, inclusive, future-ready green-skills ecosystem that advances India's progress on the above SDGs. Prioritizing holistic workforce development aligned with climate commitments can help India leverage green skills as a key driver of economic competitiveness, social equity, and long-term environmental stewardship.