Bengaluru has the most talent in Asia, says CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in conversation with Narayan Lakshman, The Hindu Opinion Editor and Curator of The Huddle, during The Hindu Huddle in Bengaluru on June 5, 2026. | Photo credit: K. Murali Kumar

Bengaluru has the largest talent pool in Asia and the world sees India through Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said at the launch of the sixth edition of The Hindu Huddle in Bengaluru on Friday (June 5, 2026).

“While California has 13 million IT professionals, Bengaluru has 26 million IT professionals. Karnataka produces 13,940 doctors, over a million engineers and 1.2 million nurses every year. We export the best talent to the rest of the world. A few months ago, when I was in Davos, everyone was saying that the India session in Bengaluru would only find the best talent in the Indian state of Bengaluru.” People: Karnataka is an attempt at equitable growth”.

Indicating that this did not happen overnight, Mr. Shivakumar said, even during the Jawaharlal Nehru era, key public sector units (PSUs) such as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) were launched in addition to the Indian Institute of Management at BenIIMgal (Bel).

Many students from different states study in Bengaluru as it was the “safest city”, he added.

“I start the day with Hindus”

The Chief Minister said he starts his day with coffee and a Hindu.

“It (Hindus) is a group with a long history and heritage. Hindus have not budged even an inch despite political and government pressures. Your pen is very straight. This pen gives direction to the entire country and all sections of society,” he said.

Mr. Shivakumar said he was happy to start his activities as the new Chief Minister with The Hindu Group. “This is the first event I have inaugurated as Chief Minister,” he said, adding that The Huddle brought the best minds to Bengaluru.

“Connection is the beginning, discussion and deliberation is progress and let us all work together to strengthen Karnataka and India,” he said, adding that The Hindu Huddle provides solutions for every section of society like politics, business, commerce, sports and culture.

Hindu Huddle is presented by Sami-Sabinsa Group as a presenting partner. The event is co-sponsored by the Government of Telangana and is being held in association with Khaja Bandanawaz University.

The event is further supported by Bank of Baroda, Larsen & Toubro, Apollo Hospitals, IIM Sirmaur, ICFAI Group, TAFE, Wizzmon, Uttarakhand Government, Associate Partners; Casagrand, real estate partner; Toyota, the luxury car partner; Amity University Bengaluru, Partner University; Harrow International School Bengaluru, Education Partner; Meghalaya Tourism, State Partner; and NDTV 24×7, TV Partner.

Published – 5 Jun 2026 13:12 IST