NSQF Notification

Subsequent to the notification of National Credit Framework by UGC on 10th April 2023, the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) has been revised and notified on 6th June 2023, in supersession of its earlier notification dated 27th December 2013.

The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) is an outcome and competency-based framework which organizes qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills, aptitude, and responsibility levels defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learner must acquire through formal, non-formal or informal learning which may comprise of academics, vocational education, training & skilling and experiential learning including relevant experience and proficiency/ professional levels acquired, subject to assessment.

NSQF Notification Link

​The following are the key features of NSQF:

  • Provide for integrating and creditizing vocational education, training and skill learning in various dimensions of academics, skilling and experiential learning including relevant experience and proficiency/ professional levels acquired, subject to assessment;
  • Clearly prescribe the desired competency levels in terms of knowledge, skills, aptitude, responsibility and learning outcomes expected after undergoing the course/ qualification while assigning a pre-defined NSQF/ NCrF level to the same;
  • Facilitate assigning of credit levels across vocational education/ skilling including that in school and higher education, based on the cumulative numbers of hours/ years of learning; Creditization of every type and hour of learning subject to its assessment; 
  • Establish academic equivalence between vocational & general education while enabling mobility within & between them;
  • Enable multi-disciplinarity, multiple entry-multiple exit (ME-ME) and progression pathways within and between school education, higher education, technical education, vocational education, training & skilling, and the job markets;
  • Provide flexibility for students/ learners to choose their learning trajectories and career choices, including option for mid-way course correction
  • Recognize learning through close partnership with industry and employers through internships apprenticeships and on the job training across all sectors;
  • Provide for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through a credible assessment process;
  • Thus NSQF enables and promotes lifelong learning and skill development.

    The revised NSQF incorporates the provisions laid down in NEP and NCrF with respect to the following:

    • NSQF Levels: There will be eight levels from Level 1 to level 8 namely Level-1, Level-2, level-2.5, Level-3, Level-3.5, Level-4, Level-4.5, Level-5.0, Level-5.5, Level-6.0, Level-6.5, Level-7.0, and Level-8. 5.1.2. Each level represents a different level of skill, complexity, knowledge, responsibility and autonomy required to demonstrate the competence commensurate with that level. Level one of the framework represents the lowest complexity while highest level i.e. level eight represents the highest complexity.
    • NSQF Level Descriptors: Each NSQF Level and is defined and described by a set of level descriptors. These descriptors will be expressed in 5 domains namely
      1. Professional theoretical knowledge,
      2. Professional and technical skills/ expertise,
      3. Aptitude, mind-set, soft skills, employment readiness & entrepreneurship skills,
      4. Broad learning outcomes and
      5. Level of responsibility.
    • Standardization of Norms for Minimum Entry Criteria & Notional Hours: Each qualification at an NSQF level may be further defined in terms of entry criteria, minimum range of notional hours required to achieve the prescribed learning outcomes which are aligned to the National Credit Framework (NCrF). For a qualification at a particular NSQF level with a predefined learning outcome, there will be minimum level of standardization in terms of the following elements:
      • Minimum Entry criteria: Since every level of qualification/ job role is expected to lead to a defined level of competency, minimum entry requirements for undertaking training in a qualification of a particular level may be prescribed by the Council. The entry criteria may include the academic credentials and/or previous Vocational Education, Training and Skilling undertaken and the existing work experience of the prospective student/ learner.
      • Minimum range of notional hours: Although the NSQF levels are not directly related to the duration of study, for every NSQF aligned qualification a range of minimum notional hours may be prescribed by NCVET to ensure that a minimum duration of training is imparted for a defined level of competency. The notional learning hours may include theory, practical/ skill training.

    The National Skills Qualification Committee (NSQC) anchored in NCVET is the apex body for implementation of NSQF. Constituted by the Council, the NSQC comprises, amongst others, of the representatives from the select Central Ministries, the regulatory bodies of education and skilling ecosystem namely University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Director General Training (DGT), Central Board of School Education (CBSE), select SSDMs (by rotation), select Industry Associations, the Awarding Bodies, and sectoral representatives.