Technical and Soft Skill Competencies Mapping at the Entry Level of Diploma Holders in Mechanical and Automobile Engineering for Auto and Auto Components Industries

The significance of industrialization was emphasized by the Government of India during 2nd five year plan to provide job opportunities for the vast majority of the people and to achieve economic growth. Globalisation paved ways for industrial growth, international trades, advancement of technology and innovations in industrial production. In order to maintain sustainability in cutthroat competitive environment, industries have to make quick response to the changed business environment, technology upgradation and maintain international standards for its production and servicing activities. Obviously, industry needs competent skilled human resources to overcome the challenges of 21st century. Industrial Training Institutes and Polytechnic Colleges are main sources of supplying skilled manpower for the industries to meet their shop floor demand. In competitive job market, providing competence based technical education to the diploma holders in engineering / technology during their study is emphasized for preparing them to match industries' demand. Indian automotive industries are the significant contributors to the Indian economy and one of the largest in the world. As per the report of India Brand Equity Foundation (November, 2017), the automotive industries accounts for 7.1 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The report also envisages the Indian automotive sector has the potential to generate up to US $ 300 billion in annual revenue by 2026, create 65 million additional jobs and contribute over 12 percent to India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This paper focus on entry level technical and soft skill competencies required for auto and auto components industries for diploma holders in mechanical and automobile engineering passing out from polytechnic education. The paper also facilitates the educationist, policy makers and other nodal agencies to benchmark the existing polytechnic education in line with the competencies required for the industries and preparing the technicians to meet the vagaries of 21st century challenges.