Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy addressed the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) Annual Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, emphasizing the critical need for skilling and upskilling India's youth to meet both domestic and global automotive industry requirements. The Minister highlighted India's emergence as a major global center for automotive manufacturing, technology, and mobility solutions, driven by electric mobility, automation, connected technologies, advanced manufacturing, and Industry 4.0.
Kumaraswamy stressed that India's ambition should extend beyond domestic manpower requirements to becoming a global source of skilled automotive talent. He emphasized that rapid industry transformation requires a workforce capable of adapting to new technologies, with focus areas including vehicle manufacturing, battery production, charging infrastructure, servicing, and after-sales support. The Minister called for stronger industry participation in defining skill requirements, ensuring training reflects real-world needs, and creating a seamless relationship between education, skills, and employment.
During the event, Kumaraswamy launched the ASDC Annual Report and flagged off 43 candidates for employment opportunities in Romania, demonstrating growing international opportunities for skilled Indian youth. The ASDC's performance metrics for FY 2025–26 showed significant impact: 508,173 learners affected, 153,240 assessments conducted, and 288,756 apprenticeship contracts generated across approximately 3,700 establishments. The Minister concluded that India's demographic strength can become a major economic asset through proper skilling initiatives and strong collaboration between government, industry, academia, and skilling institutions.