“PHDCCI has played a sustained and focused role through its ‘World of Work’ initiative in advancing skill development across States and Union Territories”, says Dr Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, January 23, 2026: Gracing the summit as Chief Guest, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India,  stated that skill development is the bedrock of innovation, productivity and national competitiveness. Delivering the Inaugural Address at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s National Skill Summit 2026, Dr Singh noted that a Skilled Bharat is central to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, where India emerges as a global hub for talent, technology and innovation.
“India has no shortage of talent or intellect. The mind is there, but the mindset needs to evolve. Skill development is not just about acquiring qualifications, but about building confidence, adaptability, and the ability to apply knowledge meaningfully. A Skilled Bharat is the true foundation of Viksit Bharat@2047. Platforms like the National Skill Summit play a critical role in aligning India’s demographic strength with the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy,” Dr Jitendra Singh said. The Minister also underlined the role of flagship initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) in improving employability and strengthening on-the-job learning.
Organised by PHDCCI under the theme ‘Skilled Bharat for Viksit Bharat@2047’, the National Skill Summit 2026 was held on 23 January 2026 at PHD House, New Delhi. The Summit brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, global organisations, Sector Skill Councils, academia and training institutions to deliberate on emerging skill requirements, inclusive workforce strategies and global partnerships.
Welcoming the dignitaries, delegates and setting the context through the theme address, Dr Neha Berlia, Chair, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Committee, PHDCCI, stated that skilling is no longer an option but a national imperative. Drawing from the education sector, she emphasised that beyond degrees, students must be equipped with practical skills, communication abilities, and interview readiness to successfully transition into the workforce.The National Skill Summit has emerged as a flagship platform for collaborative thinking, where policy, industry and academia converge to co-create solutions for India’s future workforce,” she said.
The Inaugural Session also featured keynote addresses by Prof Indrani Bhaduri, Head, ESD, NCERT & CEO, PARAKH. The Prof emphasised the need for stronger integration between education systems and industry requirements, and the importance of embedding skills, employability and entrepreneurship across learning pathways from school to higher education;  importance of defining the nature of skills required for the future, including competencies in artificial intelligence, ethics, and emerging technologies, and observed that while significant progress has been made, much more remains to be done.
A key highlight of the Summit was a presentation by Siemens Digital Industry Software on ‘Bridging Classroom to Industry through Siemens Pathway to Learning Engineering’. Mr Prashant Kulkarni, Senior Director – Mainstream Cloud Products, Siemens Digital Industry Software, showcased how industry-led digital learning pathways can equip students with practical, industry-relevant skills and enhance employability in advanced manufacturing and engineering domains.
The Summit featured two high-level panel discussions addressing critical dimensions of India’s skilling journey.
The first panel discussion on ‘Building a Future-ready & Sustainable Workforce: Skills for India @2047’ examined long-term workforce planning in the context of rapid technological change and artificial intelligence. Moderated by Ms Shalini S Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, the session brought together Dr Poonam Sinha, Director General, NIESBUD; Col Suhail Zaidi, Director General, Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT); Mr Prashant Kulkarni, Siemens Digital Industry Software; Ms Bhavna Chopra, Head – Stainless Academy, Jindal Stainless Limited; and Ms Gunjan Kathariya, Global Skills Excellence Lead, Microsoft. The panellists deliberated on emerging job roles, future careers, talent pipelines and the need for closer industry-academia collaboration to ensure workforce resilience and sustainability.
The second panel discussion, ‘Powering Workforce Transformation: Industry, Inclusiveness and International Partnerships’, focused on harnessing India’s demographic advantage through demand-driven skilling models, global collaboration and inclusive frameworks. Moderated by Dr Debdeep De, Head – Research & Impact, National Skill Development Corporation, the panel featured Dr Divya Nambiar, Youth, Skills & Livelihoods Lead, Oxford Policy Management; Prof Mona Gupta, CEO, Home Management & Care Givers Sector Skill Council; Mr Vinkesh Gulati, Chairperson, Automotive Skills Development Council; Dr Arpan Tulsyan, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation; and Ms Bharti Birla, Enterprise Development Specialist, International Labour Organisation. The discussion underscored that workforce transformation must be inclusive by design, enabling women, youth, persons with disabilities, informal workers and disadvantaged communities to participate meaningfully in the future of work.
Summarising the deliberations, speakers across sessions highlighted that India’s skilling ecosystem must transition decisively from supply-driven models to demand-driven, industry-anchored frameworks, supported by global standards, apprenticeships, digital platforms and international mobility pathways.
The National Skill Summit 2026 was supported by key partners including Siemens Digital Industry Software, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group and DD National (Doordarshan) reflecting strong industry and institutional commitment to advancing India’s skill development agenda.