Government of Karnataka Announces Second Edition of Bengaluru Skill Summit
News related to:Government of Karnataka · 2 min read
The Government of Karnataka has announced the second edition of the Bengaluru Skill Summit, set to take place from November 3 to 5, 2026, at The Lalit Ashok Bengaluru. The event, which will be inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri D. K. Shivakumar, is expected to attract a significant number of participants, with over 6,500 attendees, 150 speakers, and 50 exhibitors. The summit will also feature the participation of 100 partners, both national and international, making it a comprehensive platform for workforce development.
The inaugural edition of the summit, held in November 2025, drew over 6,500 participants, marking a significant milestone in the state's skilling initiatives.
The summit will be organized by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL), Government of Karnataka, in collaboration with the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) and the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA). The summit will also have the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) as its knowledge partner, and Trescon will manage the event.
The programme will be structured around four thematic tracks: Emerging Skills, Skills for All, Innovation, and Global Skills. These tracks will focus on preparing for green jobs, AI, Industry 4.0, and the digital economy, advancing inclusion across women, youth, informal workers, and the gig economy, showcasing global and local best practices and ecosystem innovations in skilling, and positioning Karnataka's workforce for global employability and mobility.
The summit will feature a series of high-level discussions and sessions, including a panel discussion by senior ministers of the Government of Karnataka, a cross-state discussion by Skill Development Secretaries, and a session featuring WorldSkills Champions from Karnataka. Keynote speakers will include Mr. Subroto Bagchi, Founder, Mindtree, and Chairman, Vision Group for Skill Development, Government of Karnataka; Dr. Gururaj 'Desh' Deshpande, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Ecosystem Builder; and Dr. R. Balasubramaniayam, Member, NITI Aayog.
In addition to the main summit, the event will include precursor events, an Innovation Stage, a Development Dialogue by Deshpande Skilling, an Expo Arena, and the Kaushalya Karnataka Awards 2026. The Kaushalya Karnataka Awards will recognize organizations and institutions contributing to industry-led skilling, workforce transformation, industry-academia collaboration, inclusivity, innovation, and measurable employment outcomes.
The summit will also feature a Skillathon, inviting individuals, teams, startups, and organizations from across India to design how Karnataka can read its labor market and plan skilling around real demand. Participants will use publicly available government data to map jobs, sectors, and skill trends, validate insights, guide action, and shape future systems.
The Bengaluru Skill Summit is positioned as a platform for workforce transformation, bringing together government, industry, academia, and global partners to co-develop scalable skilling models. The event aims to further strengthen partnerships and build a future-ready workforce, following the success of the inaugural edition in 2025.