The Government of India has called on industry to play a leading role in reshaping the country’s skilling ecosystem through the ambitious ₹60,000-crore PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skill Enhancement and Training Upgradation) initiative. Speaking on the concluding day of Bharat Electricity 2026, co-located with POWERGEN India and Indian Utility Week at Yashobhoomi (IICC), New Delhi, Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), outlined the government’s vision for building a future-ready workforce capable of powering India’s energy and industrial transformation.
“Industry partners will now have a controlling 51% stake in Section 8 companies managing ITI clusters, with the government and states providing the bulk of funding and industry’s 17% share eligible under CSR. This model puts curriculum design, technology adoption, and skill development directly in industry’s hands, ensuring our workforce keeps pace with the demands of the energy and manufacturing sectors,” Mukherjee added. She also cited ArcelorMittal’s leadership in the Vizag cluster as a benchmark for transformation.
Organised by The Energy & Climate Initiatives Society (ENCIS), Bharat Electricity, POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2026 concluded, bringing together over 15,000 professionals, 250 exhibitors, and 150 global thought leaders from over 40 countries. The event highlighted India’s energy transition, next-generation utility solutions, and the critical importance of workforce development and collaborative innovation to power the nation’s future.
Mukherjee further called on industry to “move from recruiters to co-creators,” urging participation in curriculum development and investment in trainers and infrastructure. She announced a national registry of centres of excellence in skilling and encouraged sector skill councils and industry to become awarding bodies under NCVET for faster rollout of industry-relevant courses. “We are also expanding apprenticeships, with co-funding, especially for MSMEs,” she added. Inviting broad participation, she concluded, “Tell us your future skill needs, shape our ITIs, and help build a workforce ready for India’s energy transition.”
At the “Future-Ready Bharat: Skills, Startups & Innovation for Energy Sovereignty” panel at Bharat Electricity 2026, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee (Secretary, MSDE), Divyanshu Asthana (CHRO, Resonia, Vedanta Group), Abhishek Sharma (Co-Founder & CEO, Apparent Energy Solutions), Tanushree Bhowmik (WePOWER Coordinator, World Bank), Dr. Abhinav Jindal (Senior Faculty, Power Management Institute, NTPC School of Business), and Abhilasha Gaur (CEO, SSC NASSCOM) called for competency-based training, greater diversity, and stronger support for startups to build a future-ready power sector workforce for India.
Tanushree Bhowmik, WePOWER Coordinator, The World Bank, said, “To truly support India’s energy transition, we must invest in innovation and our people. An agile and diverse skilling and education system is vital to prepare for the future.”
On the final day of Bharat Electricity 2026, discussions focused on building a future-ready power sector, with sessions highlighting India’s roadmap for grid reliability, transmission and DISCOM reform, and renewable integration.
Abhilasha Gaur, CEO, SSC NASSCOM, said, “It’s time to move from a job role-based approach to a competency model, combining digital, problem-solving and adaptability, to make the power sector aspirational and attract the next generation of talent.”
State-level panels explored West Bengal’s energy and infrastructure growth, while a marquee dialogue tackled the realities of scaling hydrogen as a clean energy vector.
Dr. Abhinav Jindal, Senior Faculty, Power Management Institute, NTPC Business School, said, “Our hub-and-spoke model, with regional learning institutes and technology-driven training, helps us stay ahead in building a future-ready, sector-wide talent pool.”
The summit concluded with forward-looking panels on market mechanisms, price risk management, and innovation in power distribution, reinforcing the event’s central themes of collaboration, technology adoption, and affordable, sustainable energy for all.
Bharat Electricity, POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week form India’s flagship integrated leadership and business platform for the power and utilities sector. Hosted from 01–03 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi, IICC, New Delhi, the co-located events combine a Strategic Summit, international Exhibition, Knowledge Hub, State and Investment Roundtables, specialised pavilions and the Bharat Electricity Awards across the complete electricity value chain.
The Energy & Climate Initiatives Society (ENCIS) is an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit strategic knowledge and policy institution advancing India’s energy sovereignty, energy transition, climate resilience and sustainable industrial growth. Guided by distinguished former Secretaries to the Government of India, regulators and industry leaders, ENCIS operates at the intersection of policy, industry, technology, finance and international cooperation .
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