Industry leaders mark World Youth Skills Day with focus on AI, digital readiness and future-ready talent

Dr. B.K Chakravarty, Dean, School of Design Innovation, Mahindra University 

“’Skills for a Shared Future’ goes beyond preparing students for their first job; it is about equipping them to address challenges that have yet to emerge. Technological competence with creativity, empathy, critical thinking, sustainability and an entrepreneurial mindset must be combined by graduates to make them future-ready. A new model making strong industry partnerships, experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration the norm is vital. Continuous learning and adaptability will be the defining skills of the future as digital transformation reshapes every sector. At Mahindra University’s School of Design innovation, we believe education must integrate academic rigour with real projects from industry, enabling students not only to succeed in a rapidly evolving global workforce but also to become innovators and responsible leaders who create meaningful impact for society.”

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor at World University of Design

“World Youth Skills Day is a reminder that the most valuable skills of the future will not simply be technical. They will be deeply human. As artificial intelligence automates routine tasks and even augments specialised knowledge, the real differentiators will be creativity, critical thinking, empathy, ethical judgement and the ability to solve complex problems across disciplines. The jobs of tomorrow will increasingly belong to those who can imagine possibilities, design meaningful experiences and translate ideas into innovations that improve lives.

At World University of Design, we believe creativity is not confined to the arts; it is an economic capability and a driver of entrepreneurship, sustainability and social transformation. Our responsibility is not merely to prepare students for existing careers, but to equip them with the mindset and skills to create entirely new opportunities in a rapidly evolving world. That, ultimately, is what future-ready education should aspire to achieve.”

Bhagwati Chhabbarwal Shetty, CHRO, Comviva

“The rapidly evolving digital landscape demands that we move beyond legacy, template-driven talent frameworks towards ecosystem-wide skill integration. We believe the focus now must be on equipping young talent to play on a world stage by building future-ready capabilities while moving beyond template careers to thrive in cross-functional innovation environments.

At Comviva, we are translating this philosophy into action by building sustainable talent pipelines through stronger industry-academia engagement. We hire extensively from leading institutions, including IITs, NITs, IIITs and other premier universities, bringing in talented young professionals who contribute across high-impact areas such as AI, data science, fintech and digital engineering. Through curated learning journeys and a culture of continuous skill reboot, we enable them to build future-ready capabilities, earn mobility with merit, collaborate across disciplines and solve for billions. The goal is not just to help the next generation adapt to technological change, but to empower them to shape the future of digital transformation.”

Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India

“Youth drive national development by acting as the primary engines of economic growth, technological innovation, and social change. To be able to create maximum impact, they need strong technical knowledge and skills in advanced technologies like GIS, AI, and machine learning. At Esri India, we are committed to empowering youth with industry-relevant knowledge, hands-on experience, and future-ready skills in geospatial and emerging technologies. Through initiatives like the GIS Academia Council of India (GACI), we bring academia and industry together to strengthen GIS education, shape industry-aligned curricula, and foster interdisciplinary learning, enabling students to develop innovative GIS- and AI-enabled solutions for governance, business, and sustainable development. We believe that investing in these capabilities today will enable India’s youth to build a more resilient, inclusive, and shared future.”

Manisha Dubey, Head of IDEMIA India Foundation

“On World Youth Skills Day, we must redefine how we measure the success of skilling initiatives. The true metric is not how many young people we train, but how many we empower with meaningful employment. Skills must translate into livelihoods, confidence, and long-term careers. At IDEMIA India Foundation, we are proud that 92% of the youth graduating from our employability programs have secured jobs. This reinforces our belief that industry-aligned, outcome-driven training can create lasting social impact.

Equally important is ensuring that no one is left behind. Our inclusive skilling programs for hearing-impaired youth and young adults on the autism spectrum are helping unlock talent that is often overlooked. Every young person deserves the opportunity to build a future with dignity and purpose.The future of skilling lies in continuously upgrading curricula, embracing emerging technologies, strengthening industry partnerships, and providing real-world exposure that prepares young people for evolving workplaces. Investing in quality, relevance, and inclusion is the key to building a workforce that is ready for tomorrow and an economy that leaves no talent behind.”

Navneet Kaushik, CHRO, Invenia-STL Networks

“World Youth Skills Day is a reminder that skills are the bridge between potential and opportunity. As industries evolve and technology reshapes how we work, the ability to learn, unlearn, and adapt matters more than any single qualification.

At Invenia-STL Networks, we have worked with our partner to rebuild a science lab from the ground up at a government school in Jammu and trained teachers on AI-assisted teaching tools. Real skilling means giving people the infrastructure and the confidence to solve problems with their own hands, not just theory on a page.

When we invest in young people’s skills, we’re not just preparing them for jobs of the future; we’re building more inclusive economies, stronger communities, and a generation capable of leading meaningful change. This is a responsibility every industry, institution, and individual must share.”

Gautam Sharma, Managing Director, Viasat India

“As India cements its position as a global hub for space technology and digital innovation, empowering young people with future-ready skills is no longer just an educational priority, it is an economic imperative. Satellite communications is emerging as a foundational technology for the future, enabling resilient connectivity across aviation, maritime, disaster response, remote communities, defence, IoT and the broader digital economy. Realizing this opportunity requires a workforce equipped with specialized, industry-relevant skills. At Viasat India, we are helping bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application through our strategic partnership with BSNL at BRBRAITT, Jabalpur, where we have introduced specialized satellite communications courses for engineering students and early-career professionals. 

Complementing this are initiatives such as our ‘Space for Good’ challenge and our upcoming Centre of Excellence focused on IoT and UAV innovations, which encourage young innovators to apply deep-tech solutions to real-world challenges. By embedding industry-grade satellite technology skills into India’s talent pipeline today, we are helping build a highly skilled, inclusive and globally competitive workforce that can power the country’s expanding space economy for decades to come.”

Mr. Diwakar Mehrotra, Vice President – GroupAR, Europe & Africa

“India’s automotive aftermarket sector is evolving faster with technological advancement and colour innovations in car manufacturing than our talent pipeline can keep pace with. We’re manufacturing more, and producing cars with advanced and vibrant hues, finishes and textures, but the country still faces a real shortage of trained paint and colour technicians i.e. the skilled and knowledgeable people who actually execute quality on the job. This isn’t a future problem; it’s already showing up as a bottleneck for manufacturers, bodyshops, and distributors today. At Nippon Paint India, we believe closing this gap is as much an industry responsibility as it is a CSR commitment. Through Project Rangshala, we are training underserved youth in practical application and colour matching skills including digital tools usage, and workplace readiness. If India wants its manufacturing ambitions to hold up, we need to invest in the hands that build it.”

India and Belgium Agree to Deepen Cooperation in Trade, Investment, and Technology

July 15: India and Belgium have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, technology, and innovation, underscoring their shared commitment to strengthening economic ties and fostering sustainable growth. The renewed focus on collaboration is expected to open new avenues for businesses, promote innovation-driven partnerships, and enhance commercial engagement between the two countries.

 Pic Credit: https://x.com/PiyushGoyal

During high-level discussions, both sides explored opportunities to expand trade, facilitate greater investment flows, and encourage collaboration in emerging sectors such as advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, clean energy, life sciences, semiconductors, and research and development. The dialogue also emphasized the importance of strengthening industrial partnerships and creating a conducive environment for businesses to explore new markets.

India and Belgium reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation through regular institutional engagement, business-to-business partnerships, and knowledge exchange. The discussions highlighted the potential to leverage each country’s strengths in technology, innovation, logistics, and skilled talent to drive long-term economic growth and competitiveness.

The two countries also recognized the importance of resilient supply chains, sustainable industrial development, and digital transformation in shaping the future of global trade. Efforts to promote collaboration in innovation, startups, and emerging technologies are expected to further strengthen bilateral economic relations and support the growth of high-value industries.

The renewed commitment reflects the growing strategic partnership between India and Belgium and reinforces their shared vision of expanding trade, attracting investment, and advancing technological cooperation for mutual prosperity. Both sides expressed confidence that closer economic collaboration would create new opportunities for businesses, generate employment, and contribute to stronger and more resilient bilateral ties in the years ahead.

India-UK Free Trade Agreement Comes into Force, Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation

July 15: The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has officially come into force, ushering in a new phase of economic cooperation between the two countries. The agreement is expected to enhance bilateral trade, improve market access, and create fresh opportunities for businesses, exporters, investors, and professionals across a wide range of sectors.

Welcoming the implementation of the agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the FTA reflects India’s growing economic strength and its commitment to building strong global trade partnerships. He noted that the agreement has been realized under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to deliver long-term benefits for businesses, workers, and consumers in both nations.

 Pic Credit: https://x.com/PiyushGoyal

The FTA is expected to reduce or eliminate tariffs on a broad range of goods, simplify trade procedures, and promote greater collaboration in sectors including manufacturing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, information technology, agriculture, food processing, and professional services. It is also anticipated to encourage higher levels of investment, strengthen supply chains, and improve the ease of doing business between the two countries.

Industry stakeholders believe the agreement will enhance the global competitiveness of Indian exporters by providing improved access to the UK market while opening new avenues for innovation, technology partnerships, and skills development. The agreement is also expected to support employment generation and contribute to India’s long-term export growth strategy.

The coming into force of the India-UK FTA marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two countries, reinforcing their shared commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth, expanding commercial ties, and promoting mutually beneficial trade in an evolving global economy.

Fintech Fusion India 2026 Returns to Power India’s Financial Architecture for a Viksit Bharat 2047

BENGALURU, July 15:  Fintech Fusion India (FFI) returns on Thursday, 23 July 2026, for a single, concentrated day themed Building India’s Financial Architecture for 2047. Bringing together policymakers, regulators, banks, global institutions, investors and fintech innovators, the event will serve as a collaborative platform to shape the next generation of financial infrastructure that will underpin India’s economic growth as it approaches its centenary.

The 2026 line-up brings regulatory authority and market leadership onto one stage. Some prominent speakers include Shri Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, Whole Time Member, SEBI; Shri R. Gandhi, former Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India; Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri, MD & Director, National E-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL); Rajiv Gupta, President, PB Fintech; Sanmesh Kalyanpur, Director, Finternet; Tanya Naik, Head – Online & Omnichannel, Pine Labs; Anurag Saxena, VP Asia & Regional Office Head, Accion; Kalpana Ajayan, Regional Head – South Asia, Women’s World Banking; Devie Mohan, Founder, Burnmark; and leaders from Emerging Payments Association of Asia, UIDAI, GIFT City, IFSCA, India Blockchain Forum, Digitally, MSME Forum, ICICI, HDFC, Xflow, Sumsub, and many more.

Built on a “Boardroom, Not Ballroom” philosophy, FFI 2026 runs a business stage, supported by an Innovation Zone, invite-only CXO Roundtables, a CXO + Investor Lounge, VC Office Hours, a Startup Clinic and the Pitcher & Pitches arena. Frontier themes on the agenda span AI-led lending, tokenized economies, digital public infrastructure and cross-border fintech corridors. Discussions around agentic AI, Finternet, MSMEs are on the list.

At its core, FFI 2026 is built around the questions that will shape the next decade of financial services: Who will own the next layer of India’s digital financial rails? How can artificial intelligence evolve from experimentation to responsible, enterprise-wide deployment? What will it take to build scalable MSME credit infrastructure? Can tokenisation unlock new models of ownership, liquidity, and capital formation? And how can fintech innovation built in India become foundational infrastructure for global markets?

“2047 sounds distant, but the financial architecture India will run on then is being decided in rooms like this one, now. FFI 2026 exists to make sure the people writing policy, building products and deploying capital are making those decisions together, not in parallel,” said Suman Bhowmick, Co-Founder & CEO, Idea Simplified.

FFI 2026 takes place on Thursday, 23 July 2026, from 8 am to 8 pm at Lalit Ashok in Bengaluru. Delegates passes are available; partnership and exhibitor opportunities are available at fintechfusionindia.com or via partnerships@fintechfusionindia.com.

India Introduces New Services Index to Improve Economic Data Accuracy

July 15: India is set to strengthen its statistical framework with the introduction of a new Services Index aimed at bringing the country’s data systems in line with global standards. The initiative marks a significant step towards improving the measurement of the services sector, which has become a key driver of India’s economic growth.

The proposed index is designed to provide a more comprehensive and timely assessment of services sector performance by capturing trends across a wider range of industries. By adopting internationally accepted methodologies and best practices, the index will improve the reliability, consistency, and comparability of official statistics.

The enhanced statistical framework is expected to support evidence-based policymaking, facilitate more accurate economic analysis, and provide businesses, investors, and researchers with deeper insights into the performance of the services economy. It will also strengthen India’s ability to benchmark its economic data against global peers, improving transparency and reinforcing confidence in the country’s official statistics.

As the services sector continues to contribute a significant share of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the introduction of the new index is expected to play an important role in monitoring economic activity, identifying emerging trends, and supporting long-term development planning. The move reflects the government’s continued efforts to modernize the national statistical system and ensure that India’s economic data remains robust, credible, and aligned with evolving international standards.

Indian Equity Markets Begin the Day on a Strong Note Amid Positive Global Sentiment

July 15: Indian equity markets opened higher on Wednesday, tracking gains in global equities and reflecting improved investor confidence. The benchmark indices witnessed a positive start as favorable international market cues, easing concerns over global economic uncertainties, and continued buying in heavyweight stocks boosted overall market sentiment.

Early trading saw broad-based participation across sectors, with financial services, information technology, automobiles, capital goods, and select consumer stocks contributing to the gains. Investors remained optimistic amid resilient domestic economic fundamentals and expectations of steady corporate earnings, while foreign market performance also provided support to the domestic indices.

Market participants are closely monitoring upcoming macroeconomic data, corporate earnings announcements, crude oil price movements, and global central bank commentary for further direction. Analysts believe that while global developments continue to influence near-term market trends, India’s strong economic outlook, healthy domestic demand, and ongoing investment activity remain supportive of the broader equity market.

Going forward, investors are expected to maintain a stock-specific approach while keeping a close watch on global market developments and domestic policy updates that could shape market sentiment in the coming sessions.

Joyalukkas launches Old Gold Exchange Campaign with INR 150 extra per gram offer

Speaking on the campaign, Dr. Joy Alukkas, Chairman and Managing Director, Joyalukkas Group, said: “Gold has always been an integral part of every family’s legacy, and many customers hold jewellery that is no longer worn or suited to their current preferences. Through our Old Gold Exchange Campaign, we want to help customers maximise the value of their old gold by offering an additional ₹150 per gram over the prevailing exchange value. It is our way of ensuring they receive the best possible value while giving them the opportunity to choose from our latest collections.”

Kia Carens Family Crosses 3 Lakh Cumulative Sales; Redefining the Recreational Vehicle Segment in India

Mumbai, India, July 15: Kia India, one of the country’s leading mass-premium automakers, today announced that the Kia Carens Family has surpassed the milestone of 3 lakh cumulative sales in India. 

The Kia Carens has established itself as one of the defining products in Kia India‘s portfolio by consistently evolving in line with the changing aspirations of Indian families. Kia has remained deeply connected to customer feedback, leveraging real-world insights to continuously enhance the ownership experience through meaningful advancements in safety, technology, comfort, convenience and design. This customer-first philosophy has enabled Carens to remain relevant across every stage of its journey, setting new benchmarks in the family mobility segment. 

The success of the Carens laid the foundation for the expansion of the Carens lineup with the introduction of the Carens Clavis and Carens Clavis EV—two products developed in response to evolving customer expectations for more premium experiences and future ready mobility solutions. While the Carens Clavis redefined premium family mobility with elevated design, advanced technology, enhanced safety and greater comfort, the Carens Clavis EV marked Kia‘s vision of bringing practical, accessible electric mobility to Indian families without compromising on space, versatility or everyday usability. 

This continuous evolution has not only earned the trust of more than 3 lakh customers but has also received widespread recognition from the automotive industry. 

Today, the Carens lineup offers customers the flexibility to choose from petrol, diesel and electric powertrains, ensuring every family can select a mobility solution best suited to its lifestyle and evolving needs. This unique multi-powertrain strategy, complemented by regular feature enhancements and the democratization of premium technologies across safety and connectivity and more, has enabled the Carens family to stay ahead of its competition. 

Commenting on the milestone Mr. Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India said, “The 300,000-unit milestone for the Carens underscores its position as a segment leader and a true gamechanger in the MPV space. This achievement is a direct result of our product-led strategy, our sharp understanding of customer needs, and our unwavering focus on quality. It strengthens our conviction that the Carens is the benchmark for its class, and we are energized to build on this momentum as we accelerate our growth journey.“ 

Responding to the evolving aspirations of Indian families, Kia introduced Carens Clavis EV.

The Carens Clavis EV combines spacious design, versatile seating with options of both 6- & 7-seater and electric innovation, making it a compelling choice for customers exploring practical EV options. Powered by 99kW & 126kW motor delivering 255 Nm torque, it offers smooth performance across commutes and road trips, with dual battery options—51.4 kWh (490 km range) and 42 kWh (404 km range)—and fast charging from 10% to 80% in just 39 minutes. 

The Carens sales mix reflects changing customer preferences. Petrol variants account for 60%, followed by diesel with 30% and EV with 10% of cumulative sales. While Clavis EV offers best in the segment range, there is strong acceptance of Kia‘s refined and efficient gasoline powertrains even in the family movers. 

Equipped with both 6-and 7-seater with unique blend of space & comfort, Carens can accommodate large families and varied travel requirements. Meanwhile, 18% contribution from top trims reflects growing customer willingness to invest in advanced safety features, connected technologies, and premium comfort amenities. 

Kia India is rapidly increasing it footholds in the country operating in 407 cities with 892 touchpoints ensuring its products are more accessible to the customers and have hassle free experience Kia’s next-gen mobility solutions.