From grassroots training to global placement, India’s youth skilling initiatives are redefining future-readiness
As the world commemorates World Youth Skills Day 2025, India stands at a pivotal moment—armed with the world’s largest youth population and facing a future dominated by artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and green innovation. This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,” couldn’t be more relevant.
In a rapidly digitizing economy, where AI alone is expected to contribute $13 trillion to global GDP by 2030, Indian organizations—corporate, philanthropic, and academic—are racing to prepare youth for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.
Pidilite Industries: From Hands-On Training to AI-Enabled Craftsmanship
With India’s booming construction and real estate sectors projected to generate over 30 million jobs by 2030, Pidilite Industries Ltd., best known for iconic brands like Fevicol and Dr. Fixit, is playing a catalytic role in building a skilled workforce.
Over the years, Pidilite has trained over 1 lakh youth in key trades including plumbing, waterproofing, woodworking, construction, interior design, and even organic farming. Their latest initiative — the ‘Bonding Expert’ platform (https://pidilitebondingexpert.pidilite.com) — provides blended learning for students and tradespeople, combining theoretical knowledge with practical videos, expert mentorship, and field-level support.
Through partnerships with 600+ ITIs across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, and in collaboration with the Gujarat Government’s Kaushalya University, the Pidilite Woodworking and Plumbing Centre for Advanced Skills (PWP) has certified over 2,800 individuals in just two years. It also trained India’s gold medallist in Joinery at World Skills International 2024.
Pidilite’s Dr. Fixit Institute also focuses on specialized waterproofing training, while Fevicryl’s art & craft programs empower hobbyists — especially women — to become paid workshop conductors and micro-entrepreneurs.
“We’re not just teaching skills; we’re enabling careers. With our hybrid learning platforms and deep community ties, Pidilite is committed to making youth skilling aspirational and accessible,” said a company spokesperson.
Cosmo Foundation: Taking Digital and AI Literacy to Rural India
At the heart of rural skilling innovation is the Cosmo Foundation, the CSR arm of Cosmo First Ltd.. Celebrating over 50,000 youth trained across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi, the Foundation is bridging the urban-rural digital divide with programs tailored to tribal, remote, and marginalized communities.
Cosmo Foundation’s digital curriculum now includes:
- AI literacy
- Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Canva, Google Workspace
- Cybersecurity basics
- Digital payments and e-commerce
Its unique WhatsApp-based platform, Cosmo Digi Pathshala, enables learning in low-connectivity areas. Programs like Auto-EV Technician Training, Basic English Fluency, and Nari Ki Sawari (a women’s mobility training initiative) combine vocational and life skills, with 34% of beneficiaries in jobs and 18% starting their own businesses.
“We are not only skilling youth—we are transforming communities,” said Ms. Yamini Jaipuria, Managing Trustee. “By embedding AI and digital tools in grassroots education, we’re enabling young Indians to lead the digital future, not just participate in it.”
Hinduja Foundation: Bridging Education and Employability
The Hinduja Foundation, through its flagship Road to School (RTS) and Road to Livelihood (RTL) programs, has impacted over 7.4 lakh youth across 15 states. Nearly 1 lakh youth have gained employment-ready skills through RTL.
The foundation’s focus areas include:
- Digital fluency
- Communication and life skills
- Sustainability and climate awareness
- Grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship
“We see youth empowerment as nation-building,” said Namrata Hinduja, Steering Committee Member. “By equipping our young population with values, vision, and skills, we’re unlocking their potential to lead a Viksit Bharat.”
President Paul Abraham emphasized the importance of future-ready digital skills and ethical innovation, noting that skilling youth is a “national imperative” to bridge India’s digital divide.
WeSchool & AIMS: Women in Leadership for Viksit Bharat
While skills are essential, leadership inclusion is equally critical. At a summit titled ‘Women in Leadership for Viksit Bharat’, hosted by WeSchool (Welingkar Institute) in collaboration with the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) and Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University, the focus was squarely on breaking gender barriers in skill development and governance.
Despite 48% female enrollment in higher education, only 9–12% of women reach leadership roles. This summit called for institutional, corporate, and policy-level changes to empower more women to lead.
“This is not just a gender gap — it’s a missed opportunity,” said Dr. Apoorva Palkar, Vice Chancellor. “Leadership must reflect the true diversity of our nation.”
The summit also featured powerful voices from IAS officers, corporate leaders, and academics, stressing the role of ecosystems and mentorship in building inclusive leadership pipelines.
Hindustan Zinc: Global Dreams from Rural Roots
At the grassroots, Hindustan Zinc’s Zinc Kaushal Kendra (ZKK) is helping youth from rural Rajasthan and Uttarakhand to reach global employment opportunities.
Since 2019:
- 8,600+ youth trained, 45% of them women
- 7,250+ placed in domestic roles
- Placements in hospitality, retail, solar energy, microfinance
- Global placements in Spain and Saudi Arabia
Success stories like Deepika Devra (now working on a cruise ship in Spain) and Lalit Jangid (now an electrician in Saudi Arabia) are shining examples of the transformational power of skilling.
“Each global placement proves no dream is too big and no village too small,” said Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc.
The program aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Rajasthan goals and has engaged over 500 recruitment partners, including Tata Motors, SBI Cards, Taj Hotels, and Reliance Retail.
Industry Speaks: The AI Imperative
Leading voices in India’s skilling ecosystem weighed in on the impact of AI and the urgency of digital transformation:
- Nikhil Barshikar, CEO of Imarticus Learning, shared that demand for AI-related courses has surged 118%, with 30% of placements going to women. “We must future-proof India’s workforce by building both skills and confidence,” he said.
- Sanket Atal, Managing Director, Salesforce India, emphasized AI’s potential to unlock creativity and career growth. “Trailhead, our free platform, is helping democratize digital learning,” he added.
- Amit Goyal, MD South Asia, Project Management Institute (PMI), stressed the need for project leadership, data-informed decision-making, and ethical innovation: “Every youth trained in AI is a leader in the making.”
The Road Ahead: Youth at the Center of Viksit Bharat
World Youth Skills Day 2025 is more than a commemorative occasion — it’s a reminder of India’s growing skilling movement and a call to action. With digital transformation accelerating, and AI reshaping the future of work, equipping young Indians with the right tools, mentorship, and opportunities is both a moral and economic imperative.
A Generation Ready for the Future
From AI-infused village classrooms to global placements for rural youth, India’s skilling ecosystem is undergoing a historic transformation. The future isn’t just digital—it’s inclusive, entrepreneurial, and globally connected.
On World Youth Skills Day 2025, these stories reaffirm a powerful truth: when youth are empowered with the right skills, they don’t just find jobs—they create futures.
