President Smt Droupadi Murmu kicked off the SkilltheNation Challenge on January 1, 2026. The activity took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, and this falls under the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) Scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Inaugurating another activity under this event is the inauguration of a newly established IGNOU Regional Centre and Skill Centre that took place virtually in Rairangpur in the state of Odisha.
The President pointed out that artificial intelligence has ceased to be merely a technological innovation; it has become a force that is drastically altering the shapes of world economies. For India’s youth, AI is an enormous opportunity to transform education, employment, and service delivery. She highlighted that AI is expected to be one of the major drivers of the Indian economy in the next decade and is likely to make significant contributions to GDP, employment, and overall productivity.
Another theme that ran through her speech was inclusiveness in technology, as the President observed that technology must be used to empower the marginalised and to cross the existing divides that are social, economic and technological. The President commended Members of Parliament who had already completed learning modules on AI, but to members who have completed the AI learning modules, your example of leadership through learning sends a powerful message to all of us.
The President has identified areas that can form the foundation of a diverse talent pool for AI. These include AI and data science, AI and engineering, and data analytics, and they emphasised that the government is working hand in hand to make sure that not only is the technology adopted but also that the future of that technology must be shaped responsibly and ethically. The National Education Policy is the first step towards transforming India into a knowledge superpower.
Skill the Nation represents the government’s commitment to making the Indian workforce AI-ready and preparing the country for AI. The aim is to achieve the dream of a developed country with no one left behind in the digital age.
