Thu Nov 06 18:08:17 UTC 2025: News Article:

Bengaluru Skill Summit Calls for Dignity and Purpose in Skill Development, Not Just Jobs

Bengaluru, November 6, 2025 – The inaugural Bengaluru Skill Summit concluded on Thursday with a resounding call for a fundamental shift in how India approaches skill development. Speakers at the State-sponsored event, themed “Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy,” emphasized the importance of viewing skills training as more than just a means to employment.

Subroto Bagchi, co-founder of Mindtree and former chairman of the Odisha Skill Development Authority, delivered a keynote address highlighting that skill development is intrinsically linked to citizens’ dignity, purpose, and quality of life, ultimately contributing to nation-building. He urged a move away from treating skilling as a charitable act or compliance exercise, advocating for a collaborative movement between government, industry, and society to uplift India’s youth.

Bagchi stressed the need to make skills aspirational, not an alternative, necessitating investment in people and the “soul of India.” He also emphasized the importance of equipping young people with empathy, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning alongside technical skills and exposure to technologies like AI.

Ravi Venkatesan, chairman of the Global Energy Alliance and former chairman of Microsoft India, echoed this sentiment, stating that preparing youth for the future requires focusing on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and human skills. He called for continuous collaboration between academic institutions and enterprises like Google, Microsoft, and Infosys to ensure no citizen is left behind in the digital revolution.

E. V. Ramana Reddy, Chairman of the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA), underscored the urgency of transforming India’s skilling landscape, noting the disparity between India’s low percentage of formally skilled workers (less than 5%) compared to countries like South Korea and Japan (over 80%).

The summit served as a platform for stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities in preparing India’s workforce for the future, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that values both technical expertise and essential human skills.

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