RFP - Design and Delivery of an Electric Vehicle EV Skilling Programme in Karnataka

About the Organization

WRI India, an independent knowledge organisation registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. As an independent knowledge organisation, we leverage our data and expertise to catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our work focuses on improving people’s lives, protecting and restoring nature, and addressing climate change. To enable progress at the pace and scale needed, we also engage with the economic, finance and governance systems that are key to enabling this change. Project background This work is being undertaken as part of the “Electrifying Mobility in Cities: Investing in the Transformation to Electric Mobility in India” initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), guided by NITI Aayog and executed on ground by WRI India. The project workstreams focus on freight electrification, battery circularity and enabling a just and equitable transition to electric mobility in India. Under the workstream on ‘Enabling a just and equitable transition to electric mobility’, WRI India proposes targeted e-mobility skilling programmes in Karnataka, in collaboration with the Karnataka Electric Vehicle Manufacturers & Dealers Association (KEVMDA) and Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI). The proposed intervention will focus on strengthening workforce readiness in the EV repair and maintenance ecosystem, with a specific focus on women and informal workers. Context about the assignment India’s EV penetration has crossed the double-digit mark, reaching 12.5% in June 20261 , indicating that the transition is moving from early adoption to wider market scale. As the country works towards the EV30@30 target, the sector will require a trained workforce that can safely operate, diagnose, repair and maintain EV systems across vehicle segments. This makes downstream workforce readiness particularly important. A large share of India’s automotive workforce (80.4%) is concentrated in post-manufacturing activities such as dealerships, service centers, repairs, and aftersales support2 . These segments include a significant number of informal and semi-skilled workers who may have limited access to formal training, certification, and employment pathways in the emerging EV ecosystem. Without targeted skilling, the EV transition may create a mismatch between market growth and repair and service capacity. This could adversely affect vehicle uptime, safety, consumer confidence, and the long-term reliability of EV adoption. Workers transitioning to EV repair and maintenance will require specialized competencies in high-voltage safety, battery systems, diagnostics, power electronics, thermal management, software-enabled fault detection, troubleshooting, etc. The EV transition also presents a significant opportunity to build a more gender-inclusive workforce in the automotive sector. While women's participation is gradually increasing in select parts of the EV value chain, including assembly, product development, and software roles, their presence in downstream technical occupations remains limited. Targeted training for women in EV repair and maintenance will create entry points into non-traditional automotive roles. Karnataka stands among India's most advanced EV markets. The state has achieved 8.5% EV penetration against a national average of 8.19% in FY20263 , recorded a 17-fold increase in EV sales between FY2021 and FY2026, and is home to approximately 8,600+ EV charging stations 4 .Under the Karnataka Clean Mobility Policy 2025-30, the state targets USD 5.2 billion in investments and the creation of 1 lakh jobs in the clean mobility sector. As EV adoption and manufacturing activities scale, Karnataka will need a parallel focus on the repair and maintenance ecosystem that supports vehicle deployment, customer confidence, and long-term performance. This includes strengthening the capabilities of service technicians, informal mechanics, workshop workers, and new entrants into the EV workforce. Karnataka's early-mover advantage in EV adoption, combined with an established industrial base and an active mandate for clean mobility, makes it an ideal geography to pilot targeted e-mobility skilling programmes. The proposed intervention can demonstrate a practical, industry-aligned, and inclusive skilling model for the EV repair and maintenance ecosystem, with learnings that can inform other such initiatives across Karnataka and other high-growth EV markets across India.

Objective

WRI India intends to engage an experienced and qualified Training Partner to design and deliver an EV skilling programme across 2-3 cities in Karnataka, including participant mobilization, classroom and practical training, on-the-job (OJT) training, assessment, certification, and placement/apprenticeship support. The proposed intervention will strengthen workforce readiness in the EV repair and maintenance ecosystem, with a focus on women and informal workers

Scope of Work

The selected Training Partner will be entrusted with a range of responsibilities which includes: Needs assessment, mobilization and participant engagement - Conduct a rapid needs assessment for each selected city and/or cohort to assess participant education and prior work experience, existing technical competencies and learning needs, local EV industry requirements, employer demand, and relevant practical training and placement/ apprenticeship opportunities. Findings from the assessment shall inform the final curriculum and programme delivery approach. - Undertake targeted, on-ground mobilization of women and informal workers in the selected cities, including existing ICE mechanics, small-garage workers, workshop assistants/helpers, and workers in unorganized workshops and informal enterprises. - Accompany mobilization with participant counselling on the programme structure, training and OJT requirements, available incentives/support, relevant placement/ apprenticeship opportunities, and indicative career pathways. Where relevant, counselling may also engage participants' families to support informed participation and programme retention. - The Training Partner shall verify participants’ identity by their government-issued identification documents, subject to obtaining necessary consent and complying with applicable privacy and data protection requirements.

Eligibility

To be considered for empanelment as a Training Partner under this programme, applicants must satisfy the following criteria: Organizational registration - Must be a registered firm, company, partnership, society, or trust incorporated under applicable Indian law. - Must have been in operation for a minimum of three years as of the date of this RFP. Vocational training experience - Must have a demonstrated track record of at least three years in the design and delivery of vocational or skill development training programmes. - Certified training partners of respective Sector Skill Council (SSC) with prior experience in automotive/ EV repair and maintenance, EV-specific trainings, or related electrical/electronics and automotive trades will be preferred. - Must provide evidence of past training projects, including programme scope, number of participants trained, certification outcomes, and placement rates. - Experience working with government skilling schemes (e.g., Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) or in collaboration with SSCs, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), or other national skilling bodies will be preferred. - Any awards, recognitions, or certifications received for excellence in vocational training should be highlighted. Inclusive practices - Must demonstrate prior experience in designing and delivering training programmes spec