Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the Karnataka government plans to provide skill development training to 30 lakh youth in the state by 2032.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025, held at The Lalit Ashok Hotel, the Chief Minister said the initiative is part of the Karnataka Skill Development Policy 2025-2032, which aims to strengthen employability and innovation among the state's youth.

Siddaramaiah said that over 60 per cent of Karnataka's population is below 35 years of age, with 1.2 crore youth expected to enter the workforce over the next decade. The state aims to raise women's enrolment in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to 33 per cent and boost global employment opportunities through the International Migration Centre.

A new Skill Development University will be established at Sandur in Ballari district, he announced, adding that ₹4,432 crore has been earmarked for implementing the seven-year strategic plan.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Mauritius Labour Minister Mohammed Reza Kasam Udeem, and several Karnataka ministers, including Santosh S. Lad, Priyank Kharge, and Sharan Prakash Patil, attended the event.

Shivakumar highlighted Bengaluru's position as a global innovation hub, noting that the city has 25 lakh IT professionals — nearly double that of California, USA — and urged youth to become job creators rather than job seekers.

Books titled Karnataka Skill Development Policy 2025-2032 and Karnataka Labour Blueprint 2030 were also released at the summit.