NABARD Commits ₹4 Crore to NSDC Social Stock Exchange Issue for Overseas Employment of 600 Rural Youth
Programme targets OBC youth in Madhya Pradesh with skills training and employment opportunities in Japan and Germany
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has committed ₹4 crore to the National Skill Development Corporation’s (NSDC) Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) issue, listed on the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) Social Stock Exchange platform. The funding will support an overseas skilling and employment programme targeting 600 rural youth belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Madhya Pradesh.
The initiative is being implemented by NSDC in partnership with the Government of Madhya Pradesh. It combines Social Stock Exchange funding, outcome-linked public financing and beneficiary participation to connect financial resources with measurable social outcomes.
Training and Employment Opportunities in Japan and Germany
The programme aims to improve livelihood opportunities for rural youth by providing skills and competencies relevant to overseas employment. Participants will receive language training, domain-specific skill development, cultural orientation and certification, alongside assistance with overseas placement.
The support will also cover documentation and deployment arrangements for employment opportunities in Japan and Germany.
Focus on Verified Employment Outcomes
Unlike conventional skilling programmes that primarily measure training completion, the initiative is designed to focus on verified outcomes, including actual overseas deployment, sustained employment and improved livelihoods.
The programme seeks to improve income prospects for participating rural households while enabling young people to access opportunities in international labour markets.
Implementation will include beneficiary-level monitoring, periodic reporting and independent outcome verification mechanisms. These measures are intended to support transparency, accountability and assessment of the programme’s developmental impact.
Social Stock Exchange Financing for Rural Development
The listing represents a step in the development of India’s Social Stock Exchange ecosystem, which provides a platform for mobilising funds for social initiatives.
Through its ₹4 crore subscription, NABARD aims to demonstrate how financial instruments linked to measurable outcomes can support development programmes while maintaining accountability among stakeholders.
NABARD has been supporting the development of the Social Stock Exchange ecosystem and encouraging financing models focused on measurable outcomes and rural development needs.
Potential for Wider Application
The initiative is expected to serve as a model for financing rural skilling, employability and livelihood programmes through the Social Stock Exchange. Its implementation could inform similar outcome-based financing approaches in areas such as rural entrepreneurship, climate resilience, women-led development, social inclusion and skill development.
By linking rural youth with international employment opportunities and connecting institutional finance with measurable social outcomes, the programme aims to demonstrate how the Social Stock Exchange can support inclusive development.
The initiative is also expected to encourage wider participation from philanthropic institutions, development agencies, corporates and investors in addressing development challenges through alternative financing mechanisms.