AWPO and upGrad have joined forcesMumbai, 11 February, 2025: Riding high on its commitment to nation-building through skilling and career development, upGrad, one of Asia’s largest integrated skilling and forever learning majors—has announced a unique partnership with the Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO). It aims to empower military veterans and their dependents, including wives, young graduates, and widows of martyrs, with career opportunities to seamlessly transition into India’s corporate workforce.

In a first, the strategic partnership will enable a stronger last mile upskilling through bespoke training programs in essential domains like AI, Digital Marketing, Data, and vocational courses that prepares veterans and their families with core capabilities for both white-collar and blue-collar roles as per requirements, driving a very strong economic and social inclusion.

The Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO) is a welfare initiative under the Adjutant General’s Branch of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army). Established in May 1999, AWPO is a non-profit organisation dedicated to facilitating second career opportunities for retiring and retired Army personnel, their widows, and dependents. It assists in job placements across government, semi-government, and corporate sectors. Up until January 2025, AWPO has successfully placed over 1.3L veterans, including Officers, JCO, OR, and wards/widows, building one of the strongest placement ecosystems in India for ex-army officials.

Major Gen Ajay Singh Chauhan, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal (Retd) and Head of AWPO, commented, “The Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO) aims to provide second career opportunities for army veterans, who often retire between ages 35-40, at a crucial stage in their lives. Many face challenges supporting their families with pensions, making career transitions vital. The partnership with upGrad is key in helping us understand the skill sets and shortcomings of these veterans. While they bring valuable experience, the needs of the industry vary, and upGrad’s role in upskilling them makes them industry-ready. This partnership helps bridge the gap, ensuring they are fully prepared to take on any opportunity that arises, significantly advancing AWPO’s mission of placing retired army personnel. AWPO operates across 17 regional offices, including in J&K, and has placed over 16,000 JCOs, 450 officers, and 300 widows/wards across diverse sectors in corporate India in the last year. We believe in proactively hunting for opportunities, with regional offices tasked to match profiles and ensure seamless transitions.”

“It’s a matter of great pride for upGrad to work closely with AWPO and contribute meaningfully and literally towards nation building. Our partnership is a powerful response to the growing organic demand we are witnessing from all over the ecosystem – not just corporate India,” said Srikanth Iyengar, CEO of upGrad Enterprise. “It comes at a time when the Indian Government is making stronger strides within skilling and forever learning and building the right infrastructure to support our economic progress. It’s incredible to see the opportunity at hand—enabling AWPO with the right resources – for example, while this group of army officials, JCOs and veterans who retire every year, brings unmatched discipline, leadership, and resilience honed through military service, we will build bespoke training to enhance their soft skills and capabilities for a smoother transition from a military environment to a job corporate / service environment. We are both honoured and excited by the trust placed in us by AWPO, and we remain committed to delivering impactful outcomes.”