Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026: How Karnataka is Preparing You for the AI Revolution

The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 has concluded, centering its final discussions on the development of a future-ready workforce, the integration of AI, and the expansion of global career opportunities. Over three days, the summit served as a hub for Karnataka’s leadership, policymakers, industry experts, academia, and youth to deliberate on the evolving nature of skills and employment.

Bengaluru, 6 November 2026: The second edition of the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026, organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka, and hosted by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) in association with the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA), has wrapped up following three days of intensive industry dialogue and academic exchange. With the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) serving as the Knowledge Partner, the event drew a total attendance of 9,500. The gathering brought together government officials, policymakers, industry leaders, academic experts, and international delegates to address future workforce demands and employment prospects. Japan served as the Country Partner for this year’s edition.

Operating under the theme ‘Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy,’ the summit examined various approaches to cultivating a workforce prepared for the future while bolstering Karnataka’s skilling ecosystem. The agenda was divided into four primary tracks: Emerging Skills, which covered green jobs, AI, Industry 4.0, and the digital economy; Skills for All, aimed at fostering inclusion for women, youth, gig workers, and the informal sector; Innovation, which highlighted global and local best practices; and Global Skills, focused on enhancing the international employability of Karnataka’s workforce.

Throughout the three-day event, the schedule included ministerial sessions, industry-led presentations, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and activities at the Skill Expo and Innovation Stage. Key topics included ‘Workforce 2030: Karnataka’s Roadmap from Policy to Execution’, ‘Preparing Young People for Their First Job in an AI-Enabled Economy’, ‘AI, Employability and the New Skills Economy’, ‘The Rise of Hands-On Careers: New Opportunities in Skilled Employment’, and ‘The Care Economy: Preparing Talent for Global Opportunities’. The sessions also delved into international workforce mobility, Japanese skilling methodologies, new career trajectories, and the impact of AI on future job roles.

Day 2: Yuva Udyoga Sethu launched, Expo Zone inaugurated and Skillathon held

On 4 November, the second day of the event, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri D. K. Shivakumar, Government of Karnataka, unveiled the Yuva Udyoga Sethu, a digital employment platform designed for young job seekers across the state. This initiative is intended to bridge the gap between skilled talent and employment opportunities, strengthening the connection between employers and candidates.

The day also marked the inauguration of the Expo Zone by Dr. Sharanprakash R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka. The Expo offered a space for organisations, industry representatives, and training providers to showcase their technologies, training models, and contributions to the skilling landscape.

Also held on 4 November was the Skillathon (A National Ideas Competition on Labour Market Intelligence for Karnataka), which invited startups, teams, and individuals from across India to propose ways for Karnataka to leverage labour market data to align skill development with industry needs. Participants were tasked with using publicly available government data to map sectors, jobs, and emerging trends, while identifying data gaps and exploring secure integration methods for a digital platform. The goal was to produce data-driven insights to inform the state’s skilling investments and assist in the development of the Karnataka Skills Intelligence System (KSISU).

InUnity – Innovation for Community, from Mangaluru, emerged as the winner of the Skillathon.

The day also included a felicitation ceremony for the winners of the Karnataka Skill Olympics 2025–26. Organised by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), this competition was designed to identify and support grassroots talent across more than 50 skill categories, providing young achievers with a platform to demonstrate their abilities and prepare for national and international contests.

A total of 138 medal winners were recognised, including 59 Gold, 45 Silver and 34 Bronze medalists. The ceremony celebrated their talent and dedication, highlighting the importance of skill competitions in fostering vocational excellence and aligning Karnataka’s ecosystem with global benchmarks.

The awards were presented by Dr. Sharanprakash R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka; Smt. Shivakantamma (Kanta) Naik, Chairperson, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training and Skill Development Corporation; Shri Subodh Yadav, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, and Dr. Ravi M. Tirlapur, KAS, Managing Director, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training and Skill Development Corporation, were also among the dignitaries associated with the ceremony.

A highlight of the day was the Hon’ble Ministers’ Panel Discussion on Workforce 2030: Karnataka’s Roadmap from Policy to Execution. Moderated by Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, Chief Impact Officer, Sambhav Foundation, the panel featured Dr. Sharanprakash R. Patil and Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Home, Information Technology and Biotechnology, and E-Governance, Government of Karnataka.

On the Innovation Stage, Dr. Ravi M. Tirlapur, KAS, Managing Director, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation, launched Nuvepro’s publication, The State of Task Intelligence 2026. This report explores how organisations can analyse workflows, roles, and tasks to make better decisions regarding workforce capacity, skills, and AI-driven operations.

Day 2 also featured a special address by Alina Alam, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mitti Café, titled ‘The Smart Economics of Human Potential: Why Inclusion Is Not Charity, but Good Business’. The session examined how social enterprises and inclusive workplaces can generate meaningful employment for persons with disabilities while boosting productivity and economic participation.

The agenda also included a fireside chat on Preparing Young People for Their First Job in an AI-Enabled Economy, with Gopal Devanahalli, President, Skills Development Network, and Dr. Padmini Ram, Founding Director, Urban Ethnographers. Additionally, Bhavya Suri, Director, Corporate Affairs, Pearson, delivered a keynote on AI, Employability and the New Skills Economy: Building a Workforce Ready for 2030.

Day 3: Discussions focus on skilled careers, AI, international mobility and workforce excellence

The concluding day, 5 November, shifted the spotlight toward emerging career paths, industry demands, and the competencies required for the future workforce.

Plenary Stage

The Plenary Stage opened with a keynote address by Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The morning session also included the panel discussion ‘The Rise of Hands-On Careers: New Opportunities in Skilled Employment’, which explored the evolving landscape of technical and vocational roles in sectors such as aerospace, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy, and logistics.

Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India said, " We have to show children their pathways, where to go, how to go, and what are the opportunities in their different pathways. Our biggest failure, we are failing our children, because we are not able to show them what is the pathway. Where can you go? What does the system offer you. And how can you actually create a good livelihood for yourself."

Other notable sessions included ‘Learning from India’s Leading Skills Ecosystems’, which brought together state representatives to share implementation strategies, and ‘Turning Skills into Global Careers’, which discussed recognised qualifications, international standards, language proficiency, and the support systems needed to link skilled talent with overseas jobs. The session ‘The Care Economy: Preparing Talent for Global Opportunities’ focused on preparing the workforce for the rising international demand in eldercare, healthcare, and related services.

A fireside chat, moderated by Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO, KDEM, featured Vivek Raghavan and Ankush Sabharwal, who discussed how Artificial Intelligence can enhance workforce capabilities and transform the future of employment. The conversation emphasized shifting the narrative from job replacement to AI-led augmentation, focusing on continuous learning, industry-academia partnerships, and domain-specific skilling. The speakers also highlighted the need to democratise AI access through multilingual tools, expand talent ecosystems beyond Bengaluru, and increase workforce participation among youth and women. Emphasising the need to prepare Karnataka’s workforce for the evolving AI landscape, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO, KDEM, said, "The most valuable worker is not the one who is competing with AI, but the one who is working alongside AI."

The afternoon session featured a keynote titled ‘From Workforce to Imagination Force’ by Biren Ghose, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Astra Studios, which explored the increasing importance of human imagination, creativity, and original intellectual property in an AI-driven economy. The panel ‘Skill Champions: Beyond Medals – Inspiring Through Passion, Perseverance & Performance’, moderated by Ranjan Choudhury, Honorary Member, WorldSkills International, featured Karnataka’s WorldSkills medal winners, including Smriti Nambiar, Silver Medal and Best of Nation Award winner in Bakery, and Abhishek Shignalli, Medallion for Excellence recipient in Robot Systems Integration, who shared their journeys toward international excellence. The programme also included ‘Traditional Skills in Karnataka: Can Heritage Become the Next Generation of Enterprise?’, featuring Arati Hiremath, Founder, Aartikrafts, and Dr. Arun Yogiraj, Sculptor Artist, which discussed how traditional knowledge can be leveraged through entrepreneurship and market access. This was followed by a special address on ‘Developing an Astronaut Mindset towards Nation Building’ by Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Kirti Chakra), Astronaut, ISRO, and Air Commodore, Indian Air Force.

Innovation Stage

The Innovation Stage began with a special address by Madan Padaki, Founder, JānAI and Member, Vision Group for Skills Development, Government of Karnataka, titled ‘From Rural AI Skills to Local Economic Opportunities’. The session explored how AI can empower youth in peri-urban and rural areas to identify local needs, build entrepreneurial pathways, and secure employment.

Madan Padaki, Founder, JānAI and Member, Vision Group for Skills Development, Government of Karnataka, speaking during his session at Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026, said: "There is infinite potential in every one of you. Only if you believe. The moment you start believing, you can do anything. Our thought was, it is not that Gen AI that is required for India, but JānAI. How do you make AI work for the people"

The stage also hosted the panel discussion ‘Workforce 2030: Bridging Academia, AI, and Human Capability for Next-Gen Talent’, which looked at how government, industry, and educational institutions can collaborate to prepare learners for an AI-integrated workforce. Another session, ‘Building a Future-Ready Talent Pool through Skilling and Global Collaboration’, brought together international stakeholders, academia, and industry to discuss talent gaps and industry-aligned training.

Additional sessions included ‘Yuva Voices on Building a Future-Ready Workforce from the Classroom’, which examined how academic experiences can foster problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. The keynote ‘Industry 5.0: What Skills Will the Next Industrial Revolution Demand?’ addressed the shifting skill requirements of the next industrial phase. The stage also featured discussions on ‘Digital Education: A Silver Bullet Despite Challenges’, and ‘Higher Education and Skills: Preparing Graduates for the World of Work’, which focused on improving access to quality education and strengthening the ties between industry needs and academic curricula.

The programme also featured Skill Champions: Beyond Medals – Inspiring Through Passion, Perseverance and Performance, a panel discussion with Karnataka’s WorldSkills medal winners. The session recognised the achievements of skilled participants and provided a platform to discuss their experiences, preparation and journeys in their respective skill areas.

The final day also featured the Kaushalya Karnataka Awards, presented by Dr. Sharanprakash R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka; and Smt. Shivakantamma (Kanta) Naik, Chairperson, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation, recognising excellence across Best Performing ITIs (Government, Aided and Private), Best ITI Principals, Best Junior Training Officers (JTOs), Best ITI Trainees, Best Performing GTTC Centres, Best Trainers and Outstanding Trainees from GTTC and KGTTI, Best GTTC Alumni in Corporate/Academic and Industrialist/Entrepreneurship Excellence, Best Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the State’s National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Best Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs), Best Institutions in Skill Competitions, and Corporate Excellence Awards across Large Enterprise, Mid-Market and Growth Enterprise categories.

Advancing Karnataka’s workforce priorities

Throughout its three-day run, the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 served as a platform for government, industry, academia, and international stakeholders to evaluate how Karnataka can enhance its skills ecosystem and adapt to changing workforce demands. Conversations spanned topics such as lifelong learning, industry-led training, inclusive skilling, AI, emerging job roles, international mobility, and the recognition of skilled professions.

The summit’s emphasis on Scale, Systems, and Synergy highlighted the necessity of broadening access to quality training, reinforcing institutional frameworks, and improving collaboration between the government, industry, and educational sectors. The third edition of the Bengaluru Skill Summit is slated to be held from 3 to 5 November 2027, continuing the platform’s commitment to addressing Karnataka’s evolving workforce priorities.

About Bengaluru Skill Summit

Bengaluru Skill Summit is Organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL), Government of Karnataka, and hosted by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), in collaboration with the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA), the three-day summit is being held from 3 to 5 November 2026. Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) is the Knowledge Partner, and Japan is the Country Partner. Trescon is managing the event.