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India's AI Future: IIT Guwahati Hosts Key Meet on Human Capital & Skills

A two-day Working Group Meeting on Human Capital commenced at IIT Guwahati, hosted by MeitY, IndiaAI Mission, and the Assam Government. The discussions focus on preparing India's workforce for the age of AI through education reform and inclusive policies. The meeting is a key lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026 in New Delhi. Speakers emphasized moving beyond traditional skilling to embrace lifelong learning and building a people-centric AI ecosystem.

Key Points: India's Human Capital Strategy for AI Era at IIT Guwahati Meet

  • Education reform for AI era
  • Workforce transition strategies
  • Building inclusive, human-centric AI
  • Lifelong learning & micro-skilling initiatives
3 min read

Govt, academia and industry meet at IIT Guwahati to rethink human capital for AI era

Policymakers, academics & industry leaders gather at IIT Guwahati to shape India's human capital strategy for the AI-driven economy and the 2026 AI Summit.

"The shift towards an AI-driven economy must be people-centric and inclusive. - Prof. T. G. Sitharam"

New Delhi, Jan 5

A two-day Working Group Meeting on Human Capital began at IIT Guwahati on Monday, bringing together senior policymakers, academics, industry leaders and practitioners to discuss how India should prepare its people for the age of Artificial Intelligence.

The meeting is being hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the IndiaAI Mission, the Government of Assam, and IIT Guwahati.

The discussions, held on January 5 and 6, are focused on education reform, workforce transition and the adoption of inclusive, human-centric AI.

Chaired by T. G. Sitharam, the meeting is an important lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which will take place in New Delhi from February 15 to 20.

The outcomes of the Guwahati meeting are expected to help shape national policy decisions and also contribute to discussions at the global level during the summit.

The inaugural session featured addresses by Syedain Abbasi, Special Chief Secretary of Assam; K. S. Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary (IT), Government of Assam; Prof. T. G. Sitharam; Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati; and Shikha Dahiya, Joint Director at IndiaAI, MeitY.

Speakers stressed that human capital will play a central role in India's AI journey and said the country must move beyond traditional skilling models to embrace lifelong learning and institutional readiness.

Welcoming the participants, Prof. Devendra Jalihal said IIT Guwahati aims to act as a bridge between policymakers, academia, industry and students in shaping future-ready human capital.

He highlighted the institute's work at the intersection of technology, education and society, and noted that strong student participation shows growing interest in building inclusive AI ecosystems.

Shikha Dahiya explained the vision behind the India AI Impact Summit 2026, saying it will focus on human capital, democratisation of AI resources and responsible AI adoption, especially for the Global South.

She said the IndiaAI Mission is working to build future-ready talent through better compute capacity, indigenous datasets and models, and large-scale AI skilling initiatives across the country.

Prof. T. G. Sitharam said the shift towards an AI-driven economy must be people-centric and inclusive.

He emphasised that India needs strong lifelong learning systems that focus not only on technical skills but also on adaptability, judgement and human values, so that technological progress leads to dignity and opportunity for all.

Highlighting the government's perspective, K. S. Gopinath Narayan said AI is changing how economies and societies function and has deep implications for human capital.

He stressed the need for continuous learning, micro-skilling and basic AI literacy as essential public capabilities.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the focus on "inclusive" AI. But I hope this isn't just another talk shop. We have millions of graduates every year who need immediate, hands-on skilling, not just policy discussions. The proof will be in the implementation - how quickly can we roll out these micro-skilling modules to engineering colleges and ITIs across states?
A
Aditya G
Prof. Sitharam's point about adaptability and human values is key. AI isn't just about coding; it's about judgment and ethics. Our education system needs a massive overhaul from school level to instill these values alongside technical skills. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
As someone working in tech, the emphasis on indigenous datasets is crucial. We can't just rely on Western models for the Indian context. Building our own capacity for the Global South is a visionary goal. Hope the 2026 summit delivers concrete frameworks.
K
Karthik V
While the intent is good, I'm a bit skeptical. We've had many such meetings before. What's different this time? The real challenge is reaching the small-town student or the mid-career professional fearing job loss. The plan needs to be very granular and accessible. 🤔
M
Meera T
Excellent move! Including Assam's government shows a commitment to developing all regions. The Northeast has immense potential and talent. If IITG can be that bridge between policy and grassroots, it will be a game-changer for the entire country's AI readiness. More power to the team!

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