Chandigarh aims to become national skill hub: Kataria at Niti Aayog meet

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria highlighted Chandigarh’s commitment to sustainable growth, skill development and good governance at the 10th Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today.

The Administrator conveyed Chandigarh’s ambition to become a national skill hub specialising in green technologies. He emphasised the need to establish reputed institutions that prepare the youth for emerging job markets, particularly in green tech sectors. However, he also candidly highlighted the limitations faced by Chandigarh due to its union territory status, which restricts its ability to offer financial incentives essential to attracting investments and fostering economic growth.

To overcome these challenges, Kataria appealed for the creation of a special incentive framework for Chandigarh, akin to the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) model. He proposed that this framework should encompass tax exemptions, subsidies, incentives for IT and ITES sectors, and exemptions under the Companies Act to make the city more competitive and attractive for green technology investments and skill development initiatives.

The Administrator concluded by reiterating Chandigarh’s readiness to contribute robustly to the national vision of Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and stressed that cooperative federalism is the cornerstone of India’s continued progress.