India
Karnataka Plans ₹5,000-Crore Unified Skilling System for 30 Lakh Beneficiaries
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that Karnataka will consolidate its fragmented skilling initiatives into a single unified system, allocating an estimated ₹5,000 crore to train 30 lakh beneficiaries over the next seven years. The announcement was made at the Bengaluru Skill Summit on Wednesday. Shivakumar also revealed the creation of a new State Vision Group for skill development, chaired by Mindtree co‑founder Subroto Bagchi, which will reshape the state’s workforce pipeline to meet future demands.
The policy shift comes as Karnataka, which produces over 100,000 engineering graduates annually, sees many of its graduates underemployed or accepting low‑pay entry‑level jobs. With more than 550 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in Bengaluru and an additional 500 targeted by 2029, the government aims to upgrade its vocational training ecosystem before an estimated 350,000 new jobs enter the market. Shivakumar noted that traditional degrees are no longer the primary benchmark for corporate recruitment, citing international markets where practical capability outweighs formal certification.
The Vision Group will oversee specialised training programmes in highly technical emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, green energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital services. The initiative seeks to leverage Karnataka’s demographic dividend, with 65% of the population under 35.
During the summit, more than 40 Memorandums of Understanding were signed with local Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Officials say these agreements will immediately secure over 10,000 jobs for regional youth, anchoring the expanded training regime under the Kaushalya Karnataka Yojane framework.
Shivakumar also launched Udyoga Sethu, a digital employment platform that connects skilled talent with job opportunities. The AI‑powered portal, operated by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) and the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, offers seamless job matching and allows enterprises to post openings free of charge. It also provides access to targeted training programmes such as the Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojane (CMKKY) and specialised training for diverse segments, including Nal Jal Mitra and prison inmates.