The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ranchi recently partnered with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to host the MGNF Sankalp Skill Conclave. The conclave was held to promote skill development in 56 districts across the states of Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, and was attended by faculty members from IIM Ranchi as well as Mahatma Gandhi National Fellows. The conclave featured discussions on the challenges, opportunities, and ways forward for skilling initiatives in India. The event was inaugurated by the Hon. Director of IIM Ranchi, Prof. Deepak Kumar Srivastava and Shri. Manish Mishra, Assistant Director, SANKALP MSDE . The keynote speakers included Shri RCM Reddy, ex-I.A.S and Managing Director and CEO SchoolNet India, Shri. Mayank Bhatnagar DGM, State Engagement at NSDC, and Shri. Vaibhav Dange, an author and a senior policy expert. They discussed ways to improve and expand future skill development initiatives in the country. The second panel consisted of Shri. H. Krishnanunni, I.A.S, District Collector- Erode, Shri. Johny Tom Varghese, I.A.S, District Collector – Ramanathapuram, Shri. V.Vishnu, I.A.S, District Collector- Tirunelveli, Shri. Shashi Ranjan, I.A.S, District Collector- Khunti, Shri. Aditya Ranjan, I.A.S, District Collector- Koderma, and Shri. Sushant Gaurav, I. A. S., District Collector- Gumla. Representing Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, they presented best practices and challenges from their respective districts. The third panel featured experts such as Capt. Amitabh (Head – Skill Development at Tata Steels), Shri Tanmay Nayak (Programme Director of NUSSD at TISS), Dr. Divya Nambiar (Principal Consultant to Oxford Policy Management), Ms. Tara Gopal, (Co-founder of SHEEE) and Shri Prashant Hota (Exec. VP and CEO for Education and Skills at Jindal Steels), who shared their insights on the value of partnerships and networking in the context of skill development in India. In the last panel, MGNF fellows received guidance from Shri. Rouhin Deb (Chief Economist at the CM’s Secreteriate for Govt. of Assam), Shri. Rajesh Gilda (Co-funder and VP of Lend-A-Hand India), Shri. Sandeep Singh (Interim Chairperson of the BoG, IIM Kashipur), Shri. Lalit Tripathi (CEO of Vedant Assets) and Capt. Kumar Devashish (Policy Researcher and Development Consultant) on how to do more impactful work in their districts. Shri. Pravin Toppo, I.A.S, Divisional Commissioner of the South Chhota Nagpur division, graced the occasion.