Budget 2026: Skilling is India's Priority for Digital Economy Growth

• India is at an inflection point, moving towards Digital Bharat and Viksit Bharat, with a focus on people-centric growth.
• Skilling is crucial to convert India's demographic advantage into an employability dividend, fostering innovation and productivity.
• The job market is shifting to 'skills-first' hiring, with AI tools used in recruitment and employers expecting 40% core skill changes by 2030.
• Learning and work boundaries are blurring; continuous, targeted skill updates are essential, especially with India's shift to manufacturing.
• An outcomes-driven skilling ecosystem requires collaboration between industry, government, and foundations to ensure job readiness and career mobility.

Why It Matters: Skilling is essential for India's digital economy, focusing on employability outcomes and collaborative ecosystem development.