Karnataka government creates advisory body to strengthen workforce training under its 2025-32 skill policy.
The Karnataka government has constituted a new Vision Group for Skill Development to provide strategic direction to the state’s workforce and skilling ecosystem. SubrotoBagchi, co-founder of Mindtree, has been appointed chairperson of the advisory body. The group has been established under the Karnataka State Skill Development Policy 2025-32, which aims to create a workforce better aligned with changing industry requirements and emerging employment opportunities.
The move comes as Karnataka looks to strengthen the connection between education, vocational training, and employers’ needs.
Industry and academia to be represented.
The new Vision Group brings together representatives from industry, academia, civil society and government. According to the government, it is the first dedicated vision group in Karnataka focused specifically on skill development.
The advisory body is expected to provide inputs on the broader direction of the state’s skilling programmes rather than function as a standalone training agency. Its role emphasizes a coordinated approach involving multiple stakeholders. The group joins other sector-focused vision bodies in Karnataka covering areas such as information technology, biotechnology, startups and higher education.
Bagchi brings earlier skill development experience.
Bagchi’s appointment also draws attention to his previous involvement in public-sector skill development. Before taking up the Karnataka role, he served as chairman of the Odisha Skill Development Authority, where he helped strengthen vocational training and workforce development.
His experience in both the technology industry and government-led skill initiatives is relevant to Karnataka’s attempt to make its training ecosystem more closely connected with employment requirements. Bagchi is also known for co-founding Mindtree, an information technology services company.
Karnataka’s Skill Development Policy 2025-32 emphasizes preparing workers and young people for changing labour-market conditions. The policy includes the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in training, assessment and career guidance, alongside greater industry participation. The wider framework also covers vocational education, apprenticeships, reskilling and opportunities for groups that can face barriers to employment.
The formation of the Vision Group gives the state a new advisory mechanism to examine these priorities and help shape the direction of its skill development programmes. Its effectiveness will ultimately depend on how recommendations translate into training opportunities and employment outcomes across Karnataka.
