Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Transform Skill-Integrated Vocational Education in India: Policies, Practices, and Future Directions

India is at a pivotal stage in redefining its vocational and skill-oriented education through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As industries and labour markets rapidly evolve in response to digital technologies, educational systems must undergo reform to remain relevant and future-ready. This paper critically reviews policy frameworks such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Credit Framework (NCrF), the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), and the National Skill Development Policy, assessing their role in embedding AI within vocational training. Using a systematic review approach enhanced with Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) processes and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis, the study evaluates 17 high-impact scholarly works and government reports published between 2019 and 2024.