It is the state’s responsibility to prepare people for new opportunities, not just for current jobs: Sharanprakash Patil

It is the responsibility of the government not only to prepare young people for the jobs that exist today but to prepare them for the opportunities that will arise tomorrow, Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, said here on Tuesday.

Mr. Patil was addressing the inaugural session of Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026. The three-day event is organized by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) and organized by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) in collaboration with the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA). The knowledge partner of the summit is the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM). The media partner is The Hindu and the country partner is Japan.

Held under the theme “Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy”, the summit brings together policymakers, industry leaders, employers, educational institutions, skills development organizations and other stakeholders to discuss the future of workforce development, industry-aligned skills and employment opportunities.

MB Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, said Karnataka offers a strong industrial ecosystem, investor-friendly policies and a skilled workforce to support future-ready industries.

Guruprasad Mudlapur, President, Bosch Group India and Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer, Bosch Limited, noted that India’s economic opportunity is entirely dependent on the capabilities of its people, making skill development a critical economic and social imperative. “Industry cannot remain at the end of the skills value chain and wait to recruit; we need to be actively involved in anticipating future capabilities, shaping learning and empowering trainers,” he urged.

Rangesh Raghavan, corporate vice-president and MD, LAM Research India, said building advanced industries like semiconductors requires a greater focus on talent than infrastructure. While Karnataka produces many engineering graduates, the industry is critically short of skilled workers, including technicians, operators and service technicians, he said.

Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology and e-Governance said, “We are not presenting Karnataka as an investment destination. We are presenting it as the knowledge and skill capital of the country. One great thing about the talent that Karnataka has is the ability to learn, unlearn and learn again.”

Other senior ministers who attended the launch were 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, Chairman, KSDC, and Karnataka Vocational Training & Skill Development Corporation (KVTSDC), EV Ramana Reddy, IAS, Chairman, KSDA, Subodh Yadav, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of SDEL, Vasireddi Vijasionsaya, Mission National Director Mission Jyo Live Shilpa M., Commissioner, Department of Industrial Training and Employment, Ravi M. Tirlapur, Executive Director, KSDC and KVTSDC, Nawata Hiroshi, Consul General of Japan, Bengaluru, Steven Connolly, Acting Consul General of Australia, Bengaluru, Harshbir Sangha, Deputy British High Commissioner to Italy, Connagaluru, Bengaluru, Giand General, Bengaluru, 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 recognized Karnataka’s achievements in skill development by felicitating the state’s participants in the 48th WorldSkills Competition 2026 held in Shanghai, China. The awards included a silver medal and a “Best of Nation” award in the bakery category, along with eight medallions for excellence in various skill categories such as additive manufacturing, electrical installation, Industry 4.0, mechatronics and robotic system integration. These achievements highlight the state’s skilled talent and its contribution to representing India on the global stage.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 01:16 IST