In a landmark move to address critical skill gaps and future-proof India’s workforce, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), launched the India Skills Accelerator during a high-level roundtable at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi. Designed as a national public-private collaboration platform, the Accelerator aims to drive systemic reform by enhancing awareness of future skill needs, boosting cross-sectoral collaboration, and aligning policy frameworks with evolving market demands. With 65% of organisations citing skill gaps as a major barrier, the initiative will focus on inclusive upskilling, agile career transitions, and scalable training in high-growth sectors such as AI, robotics, and renewable energy. The governance structure will be co-chaired by Union Ministers ShriJayant Chaudhary and Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, alongside private sector leaders Ms. Shobana Kamineni and Mr. Sanjiv Bajaj. Shri Chaudhary called the Accelerator a “catalyst for systemic transformation,” while Dr. Majumdar stressed embedding global competitiveness into India’s skilling architecture.
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar articulated India’s strategic opportunity to position itself as the global epicenter of next-generation talent. He underscored the need to embed competitiveness in India’s skills architecture—particularly in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing—so that India is not only skilling for its domestic economy but for the world. The Accelerator, he added, will play a critical role in translating this global ambition into measurable outcomes. “Through the National Education Policy, we have initiated transformative changes—promoting flexibility, vocational pathways, and digital skilling. Our federal model of implementation, involving both Centre and States, can serve as a valuable learning for global platforms like the WEF as well,” he said.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum (WEF), said, “In the face of rapid technological and labour market changes, India’s launch of the Skills Accelerator reflects a strong commitment to equipping its workforce with the skills needed for the future. By strengthening alignment across the skills ecosystem, this initiative will help close critical skills gaps, support the growth of India’s digital and innovation-driven economy, and enable more people to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work. We are pleased to support this important step and look forward to the impact it will deliver at scale.”
