The Department of Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) of the Karnataka Government has announced the second Skills Summit to be held in Bangalore. The announcement was made during a preliminary program event held at Vikasa Soudha, Bangalore.
The Summit is scheduled to take place from November 3 to 5, 2026, at The Lalit Ashok Bengaluru hotel, India. The preliminary event was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Minister for Medical Education and Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Dr. Sharannaprakasha Rudrappa Patil, as well as representatives from various corporations and government bodies.
Under the patronage of Minister Dr. Sharannaprakasha Rudrappa Patil, the Bangalore Skills Summit 2026 is organized by the Department of Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) of the Karnataka Government. The organizing role is taken up by the Karnataka Skills Development Corporation (KSDC) in collaboration with the Karnataka Skills Development Authority (KSDA), while the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) acts as the knowledge partner. The summit is managed by Trescon.
Following the successful first edition in November 2025, which attracted over 6500 attendees over three days, the 2026 summit returns in an updated, expanded, and implementation-oriented format. Its objective goes beyond mere dialogue, focusing on systemic workforce transformation by bringing together government, industry, academia, and global partners to jointly develop scalable learning models.
The Summit is based on the theme 'Workforce 2030: Scale, Systems, Synergy,' reflecting Karnataka's intention to create a workforce ecosystem that is scalable across various sectors and regions, structured through strong institutional systems, and driven by collaboration among stakeholders.
The Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 is expected to attract over 6500 attendees, more than 150 speakers, over 50 exhibitors, and more than 100 partners, as well as national and international delegations.
Unlike the first edition, the 2026 summit emphasizes practical implementation: how scale is achieved, how systems are institutionalized, and how synergy is translated into measurable results. The program is built around four main areas:
- Emerging Skills: Preparation for 'green' jobs, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, digital economy, and other growing sectors.
- Skills for All: Improving inclusivity among women, youth, informal sector workers, and gig economy participants.
- Innovation: Showcasing best global and local practices, as well as innovations in education.
- Global Skills: Positioning the Karnataka workforce to ensure global competitiveness and mobility.
The opening of the second edition of the Bengaluru Skill Summit is set for November 3rd at 5:00 PM and will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri D. K. Shivakumar, in the presence of Dr. G. Parameshwara, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Sharannaprakasha Rudrappa Patil, Minister for Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood and Medical Education, and other dignitaries.
The plenary session will be the center of key discussions led by the summit's leadership, gathering senior government leaders, industry experts, academic community representatives, and workforce specialists to analyze the priorities shaping the 'Workforce 2030' concept. Discussions will cover future in-demand skills, lifelong learning, inclusive workforce participation, global skills, AI-driven transformation, employment, and the role of policy and cross-industry collaboration in creating a future-ready workforce.
The plenary session will also feature several landmark sessions that will draw top government leadership, state views on skills development, and young skill champions into the Summit's program.
Panel Discussion with Ministers of Karnataka Government
A high-level discussion titled 'Workforce 2030: Karnataka's Roadmap from Policy to Execution' will be held, involving key portfolios to examine Karnataka's priorities in building a future-ready workforce and transforming policy into measurable outcomes. Areas of discussion include large and medium industries and infrastructure development, Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT/BT), skills development, entrepreneurship and livelihood, and higher education.
Panel Discussion with State Skills Secretaries
An inter-state discussion named 'Lessons from Leading Indian Skills Ecosystems' will take place, where skills secretaries will share practical methods for strengthening skills systems and improving the adoption and response to changing workforce needs.
WorldSkills Champions Session
A session featuring young winners from Karnataka who participated in WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai will be organized to share their experiences and journey within the global skills competition. This session will highlight how skill excellence can boost confidence, open career paths, and create opportunities on the world stage.
The Summit will feature over 150 speakers, bringing together senior government officials, industry experts, academics, entrepreneurs, and workforce specialists from across India and international markets. Key speakers include Subroto Bagchi, founder of Mindtree and Chairman of the Vision Group for Skills Development for the Government of Karnataka; Dr. Gururaj 'Desh' Deshpande, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and ecosystem builder, and founder of Cascade Communications, Sycamore Networks, and Tejas Networks; and Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, a member of NITI Aayog.
Among the speakers for special addresses will be Ms. Alina Alam, founder and CEO of MITTI Café, and Admiral Prasant Balakrishnan Nair (Kirti Chakra), astronaut of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Other important speakers on the plenary stage include Mr. N.S. Partasarathi, Managing Partner of Mela Ventures; Ms. Minu Ganesh, Co-founder and Chairperson of Portea Medical; Ms. Uma Mahadevan, Commissioner for Development of Karnataka Government; Mr. Kaushik Muddu, Co-founder and CEO of Ethereal Machines; Ms. Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatraju, CEO of World Skill Center and Odisha Skills Development Project II; Mekina Maheshwari, Founder and CEO of Udhyam Learning Foundation; Mr. Mohan Lakshmradju, Founder and CEO of Great Learning; Mr. Rajiv Kumar Sharma, Founder and CEO of Empower Pragati and Empower Foundation; Mr. Gopala Devanahalli, President of Skills Development Network; Dr. Nidhi Punthir, SVP Global CSR at HCL Tech and Director of HCL Foundation; and Mr. Vinay Kumar Swami, Country Head of Pearson India.
Precursor Events
In the 2026 edition, Precursor Events were introduced to generate a general momentum before the Summit through thought leadership sessions conducted in cluster events by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission. These sessions took place at Mysuru Big Tech Show 2026 and HDB Techceleration 2026 in Hubballi, shifting the conversation about 'Workforce 2030' into key technological and innovation ecosystems across Karnataka.
Innovation Stage
The architecture of the summit is also expanding with the Innovation Stage, which will showcase applied learning solutions, new models, and pilot projects addressing real workforce challenges. It will provide a platform for innovators, institutions, and industry to demonstrate approaches that can be tested, adopted, and scaled.
Development Dialogue by Deshpande
A closed Development Dialogue focused on the theme 'From Learning to Employment: Bringing Rural Youth to the Labor Market' will be organized by the Deshpande Foundation. It concentrates on the transition from preparation to employment for rural youth. Participants in the dialogue will include government representatives, training organizations, employers, and development partners to explore how proven approaches can be strengthened, scaled, and turned into sustainable employment pathways.
Expo Arena
The Expo Arena will serve as a platform for organizations, institutions, and innovators to demonstrate practical solutions, programs, and technologies shaping the future of skills and work. This will allow participants to discover proven models, new solutions, and opportunities for collaboration.
Kaushalya Karnataka Awards 2026
After its debut at the first Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025, the Kaushalya Karnataka Awards return for the second time in 2026, continuing the annual recognition of excellence in Karnataka's skills and workforce development ecosystem. The awards will be presented to organizations and institutions that contribute to industry-led training, workforce transformation, industry-academia collaboration, inclusivity, innovation, and measurable employment outcomes, as well as individuals and entities promoting excellence in skills development and learning. The award ceremony will take place on November 5, 2026, at The Lalit Ashok, Bangalore, in the categories of 'Corporate Excellence' and 'Institutional Excellence' (Best Trainer, Best Intern, Best Institution, Best Self-Help Group, and Best District).
Skillathon 2026
As part of the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026, Skillathon invites individuals, teams, startups, and organizations from across India to develop a plan on how Karnataka can analyze its labor market and plan training based on real demand. Participants will use publicly available government data to show what conclusions can be drawn about jobs, skills, and sectors, how this can guide public policy, and how data from multiple sources can be securely aggregated on a digital platform.
Value of Participation
Participation allows participants to: Decode Demand (mapping jobs, sectors, and skill trends); Validate Findings (testing assumptions and identifying data gaps); Guide Action (informing priorities and training investments); Shape Future Systems (generating inputs for designing KSISU).
Parallel Roundtables
Alongside the main summit program, the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2026 will feature focused roundtables bringing together organizations and stakeholders in the skills and workforce ecosystem. These include: 'Green Skills' (organized by Recommerce and GIZ); 'Blue Workforce' (organized by Seventh Sense); 'Smart Factories' (organized by Automotive Skill Development Council); 'Academy 2030' (organized by Ripples Learning); 'CG + Trade Mission Roundtable' (organized by KSDA and KDEM); 'Vertical Transport' (organized by Bharath School of Vertical Transportation Training Pvt. Ltd. (BSVT)); 'Inclusive Learning' (organized by AssisTech Foundation (ATF)); 'Skills Development and International Mobility' (organized by Indo-German Chamber of Commerce); 'From Knowledge to Opportunity: Integrating Employment in Education for Workforce 2030' (organized by National Skills Network); and 'Healthcare and Life Sciences' (organized by NextGen Health).
Dr. Sharannaprakasha Rudrappa Patil, Minister for Medical Education and Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood of the Karnataka Government, stated: 'The first edition in 2025 laid a strong foundation for collaboration and action. We now eagerly await the second edition in November 2026, when stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the global community will gather to further strengthen partnerships and build a workforce ready for the future.'
The Bengaluru Skill Summit is positioned as the platform for Karnataka's workforce systems, ensuring...
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