The government’s responsibility is not simply to prepare young people for the jobs that exist today, but to equip them for the opportunities that will emerge tomorrow, said Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, here on Tuesday.Mr. Patil was speaking at the inaugural session of the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026.
The three-day event is organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) and hosted by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), in collaboration with the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA). The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) is the knowledge partner for the summit.
The Hindu is the media partner, and Japan is the country partner.Held under the theme ‘Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy’, the summit brings together policymakers, industry leaders, employers, educational institutions, skill development organisations, and other stakeholders to discuss the future of workforce development, industry-aligned skills, and employment pathways.M.B. Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, stated that Karnataka offers a strong industrial ecosystem, investor-friendly policies, and a skilled workforce to support future-ready industries.Guruprasad Mudlapur, president of the Bosch Group in India and managing director and chief technology officer of Bosch Limited, noted that India’s economic opportunity depends entirely on the capabilities of its people, making skill development a profound economic and social imperative. “The industry cannot remain at the end of the skilling value chain waiting to recruit; we must actively participate in anticipating future capabilities, shaping learning, and strengthening trainers,” he urged.Rangesh Raghavan, corporate vice-president and MD of LAM Research India, stated that building advanced industries like semiconductors requires a greater focus on talent than infrastructure.
While Karnataka produces many engineering graduates, the industry critically lacks domain-skilled workers, including technicians, operators, and equipment service engineers, he opined.Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology, and E-Governance, said, “We don’t pitch Karnataka as an investment destination. We pitch it as the knowledge and skill capital of the country.
One great thing about the talent pool that Karnataka has is the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn.’’Other senior Ministers who attended the opening ceremony included Basavaraja Rayareddy, Minister for Higher Education, and Zamir Ahmed Khan, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs.Dignitaries present at the event included: Shivakantamma (Kanta) Naik, Chairperson, KSDC, and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation (KVTSDC), E. V.
Ramana Reddy, IAS, Chairman, KSDA, Subodh Yadav, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of SDEL, Vasireddi Vijaya Jyothsna, Mission Director, National Livelihood Mission. Shilpa M., Commissioner, Department of Industrial Training and Employment, Ravi M.
Tirlapur, Managing Director, KSDC and KVTSDC, Nawata Hiroshi, Consul General of Japan in Bengaluru, Steven Connolly, Acting Consul General of Australia in Bengaluru, Harshbir Sangha, British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka, Giandomenico Milano, Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru.Several publications were released at the event, including Karnataka Kaushalya Sampada: The Skill Handbook (2026 Edition), Karnataka Talent Landscape 2026, and Karnataka’s Workforce Blueprint 2030 (Second Edition). The event also recognised Karnataka’s achievements in skill development by felicitating the state’s participants at the 48th WorldSkills Competition 2026, held in Shanghai, China.
The accolades included a Silver Medal and the ‘Best of Nation’ Award in the Bakery category, along with eight Medallions for Excellence across various skill categories such as Additive Manufacturing, Electrical Installations, Industry 4.0, Mechatronics, and Robot Systems Integration. These achievements highlight the state’s skilled talent and their contribution to representing India on the global stage.