Reliance Foundation Skilling Milestone: 3 Lakh Youth Trained, 1.8 Lakh Employed

With industry leaders, skilling practitioners, and young leaders, the Conclave deliberated on India's evolving skills landscape and the future of work while celebrating journeys of youth who have transitioned from learning to earning.

With keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside conversations, and first-hand accounts from youth navigating the world of jobs, it was an effort to accelerate skilling and employment in line with India's Skill India mission.

The need for adaptable, future-focused skills has never been greater, with technology reshaping industries and job roles.

Summing up this need for the importance of soft skills, Madhavi Sardeshmukh, Director of Vocational Education and Training, Government of Maharashtra, noted, "Capabilities matter the most today. We are moving towards building capabilities rather than focusing only on degrees to create a strong and future-ready workforce. I congratulate Reliance Foundation for its impactful skilling initiatives and milestones achieved, and urge industry to collaborate through public-private partnerships such as PM-SETU to develop an upgraded, industry-ready workforce."

Speaking at the Conclave, Nupur Bahl, Head - Skilling and Employment programme, Reliance Foundation, said, "India's demographic dividend can translate into sustained national growth only when young people are equipped with future-ready skills. For decades, Reliance has believed in the transformative power of India's youth. Today, this legacy continues throughtechnology-enabled skilling initiatives that go beyond training to enable meaningful employment and long-term career pathways, towards enhanced lives of young people."

Highlighting the impact of collaborative partnerships, NSDC CEO Arunkumar Pillai said, "The successful completion of the first phase of the Future Ready Skill Initiative, reaching thousands of candidates, is a strong testament to the impact that collaborative efforts can create at scale. Our partnership with Reliance Foundation has enabled learners to acquire industryrelevant skills and improve their employability. As we move into the second phase, we remain committed to deepening this impact by expanding access to future-ready skills and strengthening India's workforce for emerging opportunities."

With a future-focused skilling ecosystem that bridges aspiration, employability, and industry demand, Reliance Foundation continues to address critical skills gaps with the use of technology, AI and personalisation, strengthening pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

As the nature of work evolves, Reliance Foundation's skilling initiatives adopt three core approaches--strengthening human and workplace skills, enabling digital and technology fluency, and fostering lifelong learning--to prepare young Indians for a rapidly changing job market.

Reliance Foundation's skilling programme across 28 states of India includes:

i) Preparing young people- particularly graduates who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET)--for first-time formal employment with workplace capabilities such as communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, and collaboration, alongside exposure to emerging technologies shaping the future of jobs.

ii) Partnerships with higher education institutions across the country, strengthening the link between education, employability, and industry relevance. In addition, the Foundation works closely with national bodies such as AICTE and NSDC to support alignment with national skilling priorities and frameworks.

iii) The Reliance Foundation Skilling Academy - an open-access, digital platform offering AIenabled, personalised skilling pathways and over 100 self-paced courses--including NSDCrecognised certifications--enabling youth nationwide to acquire future-ready skills.

A key highlight of the event was the felicitation of 40 young achievers, recognising their perseverance and success in building sustainable livelihoods. Kashish Sawant, a 24-year-old skilled candidate, secured her first job through Reliance Foundation's 21st Century Skills Initiative, progressed rapidly along an accelerated career pathway within a few months.

Acquiring the right skills transformed her confidence and helped shape a clear direction for her professional journey.

As India positions itself for a technology-driven future, Reliance Foundation's skilling initiatives remain committed to leveraging partnerships, digital innovation, and AI-led learning to strengthen India's skilling ecosystem--ensuring that young people are not only employable today, but prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow.

- ANI