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

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Design and Delivery of an Electric Vehicle (EV) Skilling Programme in Karnataka

1. About the Organization and Project

Overview of 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. Know more: wri-india.org

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 2026 1 , 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 support 2 . 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 FY2026 3 , 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.

2. 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.

Component

Details

Programme Type

EV skilling programme

Focus area

EV repair and maintenance

Target participants

Women and informal workers

Training target

150-200 participants (minimum 50 informal workers and 100 women)

NSQF Levels

2.5-4.5 (aligned with relevant occupational standards by Sector Skill Councils)

Location

2-3 cities across Karnataka

Note: The final curriculum, module depth, duration, delivery format, OJT arrangements, and placement/apprenticeship strategy may be adapted for each city and/or cohort to address the specific learning and employment needs of women and informal workers. Such adaptations shall be informed by the needs assessment, participant profiles, local EV service and repair ecosystem, employer demands, and finalized in consultation with WRI India prior to delivery.

Expression of interest:

All expressions of interest, queries and proposals in response to this RFP must be received via email to the contact below by October 5, 2026

[contact details removed]

For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached below.