Education Minister Rohit Thakur announced that Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has received “Dual Category” recognition from the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). With this recognition, Himachal Pradesh has become the second state in India, after Andhra Pradesh, to be approved both as an Awarding Body (AB) and an Assessment Agency (AA).
The Education Minister said the achievement comes as a result of consistent efforts by the state government and HPBOSE and represents a major step toward strengthening vocational education and expanding employment opportunities for students in the state.
With the dual status, HPBOSE will now be able to design and conduct vocational training programmes and also assess and certify students under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). Certificates issued by the Board will carry NCVET recognition, increasing their acceptance among industries, employers and higher education institutions across India and abroad.
Rohit Thakur added that the initiative supports the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, which promotes the integration of vocational education with traditional academics. The move is expected to reduce the gap between academic and skill-based learning while allowing students to earn skill credits that can also contribute to their higher education.
As the first step under the new framework, the state will introduce a specialized vocational course in Horticulture in schools. The minister said the course is designed keeping in mind the state’s strong agricultural and fruit-growing economy.
Describing Himachal Pradesh as the “Fruit Bowl of India,” he said the programme will provide students with scientific knowledge and practical skills in orchard management, post-harvest technology and organic farming, directly supporting the state’s apple and stone-fruit industry.
HPBOSE Secretary Major Vishal said the course will follow NSQF Levels 1 to 4, ensuring students acquire skills that meet modern industry and agricultural needs. The initiative will also encourage entrepreneurship among young people, helping them modernize family orchards using advanced techniques and global best practices.
He further informed that the Board is finalizing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the rollout of these vocational courses. Plans are also underway to establish modern skill laboratories in government schools to provide students with hands-on training.
According to Major Vishal, the Board is committed to implementing the new vocational framework efficiently and transparently, strengthening the school-level skill ecosystem and creating future-ready opportunities for students across the state.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
