ASDC Appoints New Vice Chairperson & Treasurer to Drive Automotive Skills

ASDC appoints senior industry leaders to accelerate India’s mobility-skilling transition.

The Automotive Skills Development Council has announced two pivotal leadership appointments, reinforcing its mission to prepare India’s workforce for the demands of an evolving automotive ecosystem.

The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), the national body steering skill development across India’s automotive landscape, has refreshed its leadership structure with two strategic appointments designed to reinforce the sector’s preparedness for next-generation mobility.
Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Head – Corporate Affairs at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), has taken charge as Vice Chairperson, while industry veteran Mr. Rama Shankar Pandey—Former CEO of Tata Green Batteries and a longstanding member of the ASDC Governing Council—has been named Treasurer.

Mr. Nagaraj brings nearly 35 years of experience spanning customer service, branding, motorsports, road safety, and policy engagement. His contributions extend across several national forums, including his role as Co-Chair of the SIAM Skilling Group and participation in core groups under the Ministry of Heavy Industries for the Automotive Mission Plan III and the Augmenting Tool Rooms initiative. His appointment marks a key step in strengthening ASDC’s long-term strategy at a time when electrification, digitalisation and sustainability are redefining India’s mobility sector.

Mr. Pandey, known for his advocacy of technician empowerment, safer mobility, and consumer rights, adds more than 28 years of leadership experience from the automotive and component industries. His work with organisations such as FICCI, CII and ACMA has helped shape industry discourse on safety, sustainability and workforce development. His expertise in financial governance and strategic planning is expected to deepen ASDC’s role in building a future-ready skilling ecosystem aligned with green mobility and emerging technologies.

Welcoming the two leaders, Vinkesh Gulati, Chairperson of ASDC, said their appointment marks an important milestone for the Council. “Their combined expertise—spanning manufacturing, sustainability, road safety, skilling and industry policy—will help shape a future-ready automotive workforce for India,” he said.

Responding to his new role, Mr. Nagaraj emphasised the growing importance of skilled talent in India’s mobility transition. “As the sector undergoes unprecedented change, I look forward to working with partners to build competencies that support India’s mobility transformation,” he said.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Pandey reiterated his long-held commitment to elevating the value of skills in society. “As a nation, we must make skills aspirational,” he said during the 1st GC meeting. He added, “We must shift from the obsession of degrees & designations to celebration of skills and dignity of Purpose as our identity.” His philosophy, ASDC said, will continue to guide his leadership journey with the Council.