The Government of Karnataka has announced the second edition of the Bengaluru Skill Summit, scheduled from 3 to 5 November 2026 at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru. Organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL), the summit aims to strengthen collaboration among policymakers, employers, educational institutions, training providers and international partners to prepare the workforce for changing industry requirements.
The announcement was made at a curtain-raiser event held at Vikasa Soudha, Bengaluru, on 7 October 2026.
The inaugural edition in November 2025 recorded more than 6,500 footfalls over three days. Building on this participation, the 2026 edition will focus on translating discussions around skill development into practical approaches, stronger institutional systems and scalable workforce solutions.
Workforce 2030: Preparing for Emerging Skill Requirements
The summit’s theme, “Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy,” reflects the need to expand access to skilling, strengthen institutions and improve collaboration across the workforce ecosystem.
Technological advancements, the growth of the digital economy, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the transition towards green industries are changing the skills required across sectors. These developments also highlight the importance of lifelong learning, employability and opportunities for workers to upgrade their skills.
The summit will address these priorities through four thematic tracks:
- Emerging Skills: Preparing the workforce for AI, green jobs, Industry 4.0, the digital economy and other growth sectors.
- Skills for All: Advancing inclusive skilling opportunities for women, youth, informal workers and people in the gig economy.
- Innovation: Showcasing local and global best practices, new approaches and innovations in skilling.
- Global Skills: Strengthening international employability and workforce mobility.
Key Discussions on Policy, Skills and Employment
The Plenary Stage will bring together government leaders, industry experts, academics and workforce practitioners to discuss the priorities shaping Workforce 2030.
The discussions will cover:
- Future-ready skills and lifelong learning
- AI-enabled workplace transformation
- Employability and inclusive workforce participation
- Global skills and international mobility
- Policy implementation and industry collaboration
Three key sessions will bring specific perspectives to these discussions.
1. Workforce 2030: Karnataka’s Roadmap from Policy to Execution
Senior ministers representing the following portfolios will participate in a discussion on Karnataka’s workforce development priorities and the translation of policy into measurable outcomes:
- Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development
- Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT/BT)
- Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood
- Higher Education
2. Learning from India’s Leading Skills Ecosystems
Skill Development Secretaries from different states will share approaches to strengthening skills systems, improving implementation and responding to changing workforce needs.
3. WorldSkills Champions Session
Young participants from Karnataka who competed at WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai will share their experiences. The session will highlight how skills excellence can build confidence, create career pathways and open opportunities on the global stage.
Speakers and industry participation
The summit is expected to feature more than 150 speakers from government, industry, academia, entrepreneurship and workforce development.
The press release identifies the following keynote speakers:
- Mr. Subroto Bagchi – Founder, Mindtree, and Chairman, Vision Group for Skill Development, Government of Karnataka
- Dr. Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande – Entrepreneur, philanthropist and ecosystem builder; founder of Cascade Communications, Sycamore Networks and Tejas Networks
- Dr. R. Balasubramaniayam – Member, NITI Aayog
Special address speakers will include:
- Ms. Alina Alam – Founder and CEO, MITTI Café
- Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Kirti Chakra) – Astronaut, Indian Space Research Organisation
Other speakers listed in the press release include representatives from Mela Ventures, Portea Medical, the Government of Karnataka, Ethereal Machines, the World Skill Center and Odisha Skill Development Project II, Udhyam Learning Foundation, Great Learning, Empower Pragati, Skills Development Network, HCL Foundation and Pearson India.
New Initiatives at Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026
The 2026 edition will introduce additional platforms to encourage innovation, share practical solutions and strengthen workforce planning.
Innovation Stage
The Innovation Stage will showcase applied skilling solutions, emerging models and pilots addressing real workforce challenges. It will provide a platform for institutions, innovators and industry to present approaches that can be tested, adopted and scaled.
Expo Arena
The Expo Arena will allow organisations, institutions and innovators to showcase programmes, technologies and solutions shaping the future of skills and work. Participants can explore existing models, emerging approaches and opportunities for collaboration.
Development Dialogue: From Skilling to Employment
Hosted by Deshpande Foundation, this closed-door dialogue will focus on “From Skilling to Employment: Getting Rural Youth into the Workforce.”
The discussion will bring together government representatives, skilling organisations, employers and development partners to explore how training can translate into sustainable employment opportunities for rural youth.
Skillathon 2026
Skillathon 2026 invites individuals, teams, startups and organisations from across India to explore how Karnataka can use labour market data to plan skilling around actual demand.
Participants will use publicly available government data to:
- Decode demand: Map jobs, sectors and skill trends.
- Validate insights: Test assumptions and identify data gaps.
- Guide action: Inform skilling priorities and investments.
- Shape future systems: Generate inputs for the design of KSISU, as described in the press release.
Precursor events
Ahead of the main summit, precursor events have taken the Workforce 2030 discussion to technology and innovation ecosystems across Karnataka. Sessions were held at the Mysuru Big Tech Show 2026 and HDB Techceleration 2026 in Hubballi, in collaboration with Karnataka Digital Economy Mission cluster events.
Strengthening Industry–Academia Collaboration
Connecting education, skills and employment will be an important part of the Workforce 2030 agenda. As workplace expectations change, educational institutions and employers need to work together to help learners apply their knowledge, develop practical capabilities and adapt to emerging occupational requirements.
Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 will feature parallel roundtables on specific themes across the skilling and workforce ecosystem.
The roundtables listed in the press release are:
- Green Skills — Recommerce and GIZ
- Blue Collar Economy — Seventh Sense
- Smart Factories — Automotive Skill Development Council
- Academia 2030 — Ripples Learning
- CG + Trade Mission Roundtable — Karnataka Skill Development Authority and Karnataka Digital Economy Mission
- Vertical Transportation — Bharath School of Vertical Transportation Training Pvt. Ltd. (BSVT)
- Inclusive Skilling — AssisTech Foundation (ATF)
- Skills Development and International Mobility — Indo-German Chamber of Commerce
- From Knowledge to Capability: Integrating Employability into Technical Education for Workforce 2030 — National Skills Network (NSN)
- Healthcare & Life Sciences — NextGen Health
NSN and NTTF to Organise Roundtable on Employability in Technical Education
National Skills Network-NSN, in partnership with Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF), will organise a roundtable at the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 on 5 October 2026.
Titled “From Knowledge to Capability: Integrating Employability into Technical Education for Workforce 2030,” the roundtable will explore how technical education and industry can work together to strengthen employability and prepare learners for the changing world of work.
The discussion will explore how industry-aligned curricula, practical training, workplace learning and the development of technical and human capabilities can improve employability and workforce readiness.
The roundtable will be part of the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026, contributing to wider discussions on industry–academia collaboration, future skills and building a workforce ready for evolving industry requirements.
Kaushalya Karnataka Awards 2026
The Kaushalya Karnataka Awards will return for their second edition, continuing the recognition introduced at the inaugural summit in 2025.
The awards will recognise organisations and institutions contributing to industry-led skilling, workforce transformation, industry–academia collaboration, inclusion, innovation and measurable employment outcomes.
The categories listed in the press release include:
Corporate Excellence
- Corporate contributions to skilling and workforce development
Institutional Excellence
- Best Trainer
- Best Trainee
- Best Institution
- Best Self-Help Group
- Best District
The awards ceremony is scheduled for 5 November 2026 at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru.
Event Details
- Event: Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026
- Theme: Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy
- Dates: 3–5 November 2026
- Venue: The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru, India
- Organiser: Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka
- Host: Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC)
- In collaboration with: Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA)
- Knowledge partner: Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)
- Event management: Trescon
- Expected participation: 6,500+ footfalls, 150+ speakers, 50+ exhibitors and 100+ partners
The summit’s inauguration is scheduled for 3 November at 5:00 PM, according to the press release.
Building Stronger Workforce Systems
Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 seeks to strengthen Karnataka’s workforce development ecosystem by bringing together policy discussions, industry participation, innovation and collaboration across education and training.
The summit will provide a platform to examine how skilling systems can respond to emerging sectors, reach diverse groups of learners and workers, and support the transition from education and training to employment.
Its emphasis on scale, systems and synergy highlights the importance of coordinated efforts among government, industry, academia and training institutions in preparing individuals for the opportunities and challenges of Workforce 2030.
