Bhubaneswar, July 29: The state government has launched an initiative to provide college students with free training in stock markets, mutual funds, insurance, and financial transactions, aimed at enhancing their skills and improving employment opportunities in the financial sector.

Under the programme, students pursuing courses such as B.Com, BBA, BMS, B.A. (Economics and Commerce), MBA, and M.Com will be offered a 30-hour professional certificate course in mutual funds. The training will also prepare students for the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) certification examination, an important qualification for careers in the securities market.

The initiative is designed to create a skilled workforce in areas including stock trading, banking, insurance, and financial services, while increasing the job readiness and earning potential of students.

In the first phase, the programme will be rolled out across 97 selected colleges and universities located within a 100-kilometre radius of major cities, including Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jeypore, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Rourkela, and Sambalpur.

The move is expected to provide students with industry-relevant financial knowledge and open up new career opportunities in the growing financial services sector.