The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has formally recognized LaberNet Livelihood Foundation as an awarding body under India's National Qualification Framework. This recognition enables the foundation to certify skill training programs and issue nationally valid credentials to vocational trainees across multiple sectors.
India's vocational education system operates under the National Qualification Framework (NQF), established to standardize skill certifications across states and sectors. NCVET, created under the Ministry of Education as per the Skill India initiative, is the regulatory body that accredits awarding bodies—organizations authorized to conduct skill assessments and issue recognized certificates. Currently, only 21 awarding bodies are operational across the country, creating a bottleneck in skill certification capacity. LaberNet Livelihood Foundation, an NGO focused on skill development and livelihood enhancement for marginalized communities, had been operating training programs without formal recognition, limiting their credential value in the job market.
NCVET formally recognized LaberNet Livelihood Foundation as an awarding body on March 3, 2026, per official notification from the Press Information Bureau. This recognition grants the foundation statutory authority to conduct skill assessments and issue National Occupation Certificates (NOCs) aligned with NQF Level 1-5 standards. The foundation can now operate independently without needing to partner with existing awarding bodies for certification. LaberNet's registration expands NCVET's network of credential-issuing agencies, enabling the foundation to serve skill training providers across multiple states who previously lacked direct access to formal certification mechanisms.
This recognition directly benefits 8,000+ trainees annually enrolled in LaberNet's programs—previously their certificates held no formal national value. Job seekers with NOCs can now access formal employment opportunities with credentials recognized by employers across all sectors registered with NCVET. For employers, this creates a vetted talent pool with standardized skill benchmarks, reducing hiring uncertainty. LaberNet expands vocational education access in 12 states where it operates, particularly benefiting women (68% of their trainees) and persons with disabilities. The foundation's recognition reduces India's awarding body shortage, potentially increasing annual skill certifications from current 2.4 million to 3.2 million by 2027.
LaberNet must comply with NCVET quality standards within 6 months—including maintaining assessment centers meeting physical infrastructure norms and training 45 assessors to ISO/IEC 17024 standards. First batch of assessor certifications must be completed by September 2026. NCVET conducts biennial audits; LaberNet's first compliance audit is scheduled for December 2026. The foundation should apply for expansion to additional skill verticals by June 2026. Monitor for announcement of new NOC frameworks applicable to LaberNet's sectors (construction, textiles, healthcare, digital); these typically roll out quarterly.