New Delhi, July 16, 2025: On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF), the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Dalmia Bharat Ltd., in collaboration with Vishwa Yuvak Kendra (VYK), organised a seminar on ‘Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills’ in New Delhi. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, civil society representatives and young entrepreneurs to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges in digital skilling, employability, and innovation-driven growth for India’s youth. The Chief Guest for the event was Dr. Vinita Aggarwal, IES (Retd.), Executive Member, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). Other notable dignitaries included Dr. Rishikesh Patankar, Vice President, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC); Mr. Uday Shankar Singh, CEO, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra and Mr. Ashok Kumar Gupta, IAS (Retd.), CEO, Dalmia Bharat Foundation.
The day-long seminar hosted two focused panel discussions on “From Innovation to Impact-AI, CSR, and Collaboration for Next-Gen Skills”. The session explored how CSR initiatives, government programs, and digital platforms can enable inclusive skilling models and income generation pathways. A dedicated segment titled ‘Talk with Inspiring Entrepreneurs’ Maj. Sankripti Chaudhary (Retd), Client Relationship Manager, BVG, Mr. Gurpreet Singh and Ms. Poonam Devi, provided real-life stories of resilience and enterprise among young professionals who built their careers through skill-based training.
Mr. Ashok Kumar Gupta, CEO, Dalmia Bharat Foundation, said, “At Dalmia Bharat, our aim is to build an inclusive, digitally empowered workforce for India. As AI and emerging technologies redefine the skill landscape, we must ensure our youth, especially at the grassroots, are not left behind. Through partnerships with corporates, government, and institutions, we aim to scale our capacity, deepen our focus on women-centric skilling, and align curricula with sectors like AI, EVs, green tech, and rural enterprise.”
He further added, “This seminar reflects our commitment to industry-relevant, future-ready skill development. We are grateful to VYK for their valuable partnership for this event.”
Mr. Uday Shankar Singh, CEO, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra said, “As a youth-focused institution, we value partnerships that help create meaningful opportunities for young people. This seminar allowed us to explore how digital disruption impacts skilling and how we can better support our underserved youth. It brought together experts, practitioners, and change-makers to share insights and innovative approaches. Through such dialogues, we aim to co-create inclusive and future-ready solutions that empower every young individual to thrive in the digital age. We believe that bridging the digital divide is not just a necessity but a responsibility. Together, we can unlock the potential of youth and drive sustainable, equitable development.”
Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF) drives grassroots skilling across India through a robust network of 23 DIKSHa centres, 4 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), and 7 HP World on Wheels (WOW) digital buses and 2 CSL labs. These initiatives have collectively trained over 27,000 rural youth in trades ranging from healthcare and digital literacy to technical and entrepreneurial skills. By linking rural talent to industry-relevant opportunities, DBF continues to strengthen India’s youth and skill development ecosystem in meaningful and measurable ways.
