Odisha DHE & NSEIL Offer Free BFSI Skills Training

The Higher Education Department in Odisha is launching a free skill training program for graduate and postgraduate students focusing on the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector.

This initiative aims to significantly boost employment opportunities within India’s rapidly expanding financial industry.

NSEIL Partnership and Program Scope

The department has partnered with the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSEIL) to implement the NSE BFSI skilling program.

This specialized training will be conducted by Talent Skillsvarsity, an institute focused on banking and finance education.

• The curriculum includes a 30-hour mutual funds certificate course.
• It prepares students for the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) V-A Mutual Fund Distributors Certification.
• This NISM certification is a mandatory requirement by SEBI for individuals involved in selling or distributing mutual funds across India.
• Eligibility extends to students pursuing BCom, MCom, BBA, BMS, BA (Economics/Commerce), and MBA programs.

Initial Rollout and Key Locations

The program will initially be rolled out across 97 educational institutions within the state of Odisha.

Higher Education joint secretary Mousumi Nayak has directed university registrars and college principals to designate nodal officers for smooth implementation.

• The first phase targets institutions within a 100 km radius of nine key educational hubs:
• Bhubaneswar
• Berhampur
• Bhadrak
• Dhenkanal
• Jeypore
• Kendrapara
• Keonjhar
• Rourkela
• Sambalpur

Students will receive the skill training completely free of charge, with eligible participants also having their exam fee sponsored for one attempt of the official NISM Series V-A regulatory exam.

Addressing the BFSI Skill Gap

DHE officials emphasize that this program is crucial for providing students with advanced financial literacy and a practical understanding of Indian Capital Markets and Mutual Funds.

The BFSI sector is projected to become India’s third-largest industry, with an estimated market capitalization of ₹81 trillion, yet it currently faces a notable shortage of job-ready professionals.