This introduction outlines the themes raised in this special issue that are relevant to analytical and policy debates on the far-reaching skill development initiatives currently being implemented in India. An understanding of the preferences, priorities and perceptions of intended beneficiaries of skill development is highlighted as a key issue. From that perspective, emphasis is placed on human-centric theories of skill development, such as human development, capabilities and social justice approaches, as distinct from economic growth and human capital-based interventions. With reference to social construction of skills, it is argued that valuable policy lessons may be drawn, first, from insights into historical traditions of skill acquisition and prevalent forms of apprenticeship and training; secondly, from an understanding of practices and identities based on social institutions such as caste and gender; and thirdly, from a political economy analysis of the role of the state and the private sector in shaping skill policy to mobilize labour. Attention is drawn to the fact that skill training involves not only the development of technical competencies but also a process of change of attitude, disposition and identity of a new generation of workers, with wide-ranging cultural, social and political implications that merit closer analytical attention.

中文翻译：

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JSAD 关于印度技能发展的特刊

本介绍概述了本期特刊中提出的主题，这些主题与印度目前正在实施的影响深远的技能发展举措的分析和政策辩论相关。对技能发展的预期受益者的偏好、优先事项和看法的理解被强调为一个关键问题。从这个角度来看，重点放在以人为本的技能发展理论上，例如人类发展、能力和社会正义方法，与经济增长和基于人力资本的干预不同。关于技能的社会建设，有人认为，可以从对技能获取的历史传统和学徒和培训的普遍形式的洞察中汲取宝贵的政策教训；第二，从对基于社会制度（例如种姓和性别）的实践和身份的理解；第三，从政治经济学分析国家和私营部门在制定技能政策以动员劳动力方面的作用。需要注意的是，技能培训不仅涉及技术能力的发展，而且涉及新一代工人态度、性格和身份的转变过程，具有广泛的文化、社会和政治影响，值得更深入地分析。注意力。