Bengaluru — It’s not every day that a technician-in-training finds himself receiving honors from the Prime Minister of India — but Manjunatha S has done just that. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) proudly announced that Manjunatha, a trainee from the Toyota Kaushalya (Flexi MoU Scheme), has clinched the title of National Topper in the All India Trade Test (AITT) conducted in October 2024 by the Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS).
The crowning moment arrived at the Kaushal Dikshant Samaroh in New Delhi on October 4, 2025, where the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, felicitated Manjunatha for his stellar performance. Hailing from Karnataka, he’s the only candidate from the state to bag this top national honour — proving that skill, dedication, and a Toyota-grade work ethic can quite literally take you places.
🧰 Toyota Training Meets Takumi Spirit
G. Shankara, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, beamed with pride:
“This award is a testament to our collective commitment to empower people and communities. We are immensely proud of Manjunath’s remarkable accomplishment and the national recognition he has received. Throughout his training, he consistently excelled in both technical and behavioral competencies—mastering assembly operations, maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality. He truly embodies Toyota’s mission of transforming rural youth into world-class competitive technicians.”
This achievement beautifully reflects Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s ethos of ‘Grow India and Grow with India’ and its mission of ‘Producing Mass Happiness for All’.
🏫 Kaushalya: Where Discipline Meets Mastery
Toyota Kaushalya isn’t your average training program. This two-year ‘Learn and Earn’ initiative, conducted at the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), balances 60% focus on discipline, ethics, safety, and civic values with 40% focus on pure craftsmanship — inspired by the Japanese Takumi tradition of meticulous skill.
Graduates don’t just walk out with certificates; they leave with the mindset and precision of technicians who could assemble a car with their eyes closed (not recommended, but you get the idea).
🇮🇳 Skill India, the Toyota Way
Through initiatives like Toyota Kaushalya and TTTI, TKM continues to be a strong partner in India’s Skill India Mission and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The company believes that skill development is the cornerstone of sustainable social progress, and this recognition of Manjunatha is a shining example of what happens when opportunity meets world-class training.
While most 20-somethings are nervous about exam results arriving by post, Manjunatha’s results came with a handshake from the Prime Minister. That’s one report card no parent can complain about.
