ANNOUNCEMENTS
This study evaluates the regional and institutional trends in the training of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) technicians under India's Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan Stage II (HPMP-II), implemented as part of the country’s commitment to eliminate ozonedepleting substances under the Montreal Protocol. Recognising the RAC sector's significant contribution to HCFC consumption, particularly R-22, HPMP-II prioritised large-scale upskilling of service technicians through Good Service Practices (GSP) and training on natural refrigerants such as R-32 and R-290. The initiative reached over 17,000 technicians across 22 states and 3 union territories.
Using a mixed-methods approach comprising literature review, secondary data analysis, and qualitative interpretation, this report maps training patterns and identifies regional disparities in implementation. High-performing states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are contrasted with lowcoverage areas to analyse contributing factors including industrial base, training infrastructure, and linguistic accessibility. Results also highlight technicians’ post-training adoption of best practices and the broader environmental impact achieved. The study concludes with policy-aligned recommendations to enhance programmatic equity, institutional capacity, and sustainable vocational skilling for India’s climate goals.
Keywords: RAC servicing, HPMP-II, vocational training, natural refrigerants, trend analysis.
