The Impressive TimesNew Delhi | February 21, 2026- India’s vision of building a responsible and people-first artificial intelligence ecosystem was strongly articulated at the AI Impact Summit 2026, as the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) hosted a high-level expert session focused on aligning AI innovation with human talent and trust.
Held on the sidelines of the summit — regarded as the largest AI gathering in the Global South — the interactive session titled “Human-Centric AI: How India Can Power the World through Talent, Trust and Technology” brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academia and global experts to discuss India’s emerging role as a global hub for inclusive AI-driven growth.
The keynote address was delivered by Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business at The Fletcher School, who underscored that future leadership in artificial intelligence will depend not only on advanced technology but on strong trust frameworks, digital public infrastructure and skilled human capital. He highlighted India’s experience in building large-scale, inclusive digital systems as a key advantage in shaping equitable and accessible AI solutions.
The panel discussion was moderated by Sidharth Madaan of Boston Consulting Group and featured senior voices from technology, skilling and policy institutions. Panelists included Yolynd Lobo of Google Cloud, Arunkumar Pillai of the National Skill Development Corporation, Rakesh Kaul of EY, and Neena Pahuja.
Discussions focused on how artificial intelligence is reshaping workforce preparation, institutional readiness and future job pathways, with emphasis on ethical deployment and inclusive access.
Speaking during the session, NSDC CEO Arunkumar Pillai noted that artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a delivery mechanism in skilling — acting as a virtual trainer, evaluator and career navigator. He highlighted initiatives such as AI awareness programmes, the SOAR platform and AI-enabled features of the Skill India Digital Hub, which are helping learners access personalised skilling pathways and real-time labour market insights.
Dr. Neena Pahuja outlined a structured approach to AI education through a three-level framework — foundational AI literacy for all, applied AI skills for many, and advanced specialisation for a few. She shared that enrolments under AI-focused skilling initiatives have crossed two lakh learners, alongside the rollout of nano-credentials, modular courses and stackable qualifications aligned with the National Credit Framework.
The session concluded with a live technology demonstration by Sunil Kumar, Lead Engineer – Machine Learning at Google, who showcased how generative media tools on cloud platforms can convert ideas into production-ready creative assets, enabling scalable and immersive AI-powered workflows.
The event was attended by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, who actively engaged with participants and highlighted the need to align AI skilling with national development priorities. She also visited the Skill India Pavilion, interacting with exhibitors presenting innovations in digital learning, AI-enabled training and industry-linked skilling solutions.
The session concluded with a collective commitment from government, industry and academic stakeholders to ensure that India’s AI journey remains human-focused, inclusive and globally competitive, with skills and trust forming its foundation.
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