UN World Youth Skills Day-2026 celebrated by W-AHEAD India International Centre

New Delhi, July 15, 2026: World Academy of Higher Education and Development (W-AHEAD) and the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment (IIEE) celebrated World Youth Skills Day 2026 at the India International Centre, New Delhi in a conclave on “Unlocking the Potential of Young India in the Age of AI for Viksit Bharat@2047”.

The event brought together policymakers, education leaders, scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs and students to discuss how young people can be empowered with the skills needed for the future. A good number of students and members of faculty from schools and colleges in NCR of Delhi also attended the event.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Government of India, who was the Chief Guest at the conference. The event was also graced by distinguished Scientists including Dr V.K. Saraswat, Former Member, NITI Aayog and Former Director General, DRDO; Prof. E. Balagurusamy, Former Member UPSC and Former Vice Chancellor, Anna University; Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee; Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra, Prof RK Khandal Former Vice Chancellor UPTU and President R&D Glycol, Dr Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor GGSIPU, Dr Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor DTU, Er VK Yadav, Former Chairman Railway Board, Dr V Suresh, Former CMD HUDCO and Dr Mahavir Singh, Principal Director, KIIT and Former Chief Scientist, NPL among others. Prof PR Trivedi, Executive Director W-AHEAD presented the opening remarks and Prof HRP Yadav, Former Secretary IE(I) coordinated the program as Organising Secretary.

Welcoming the distinguished guests, education leaders, industry experts, innovators and young participants, Prof. P.B. Sharma, President, W-AHEAD and Vice Chancellor, Amity University Haryana, highlighted the importance of World Youth Skills Day and called upon educational institutions, industry and government to work together in preparing the youth for Viksit Bharat@2047. Prof Sharma said that India’s biggest strength lies in its youth and that by equipping them with AI and digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurial abilities, along with life skills such as integrity, ethical values, resilience and commitment to sustainability,the country can successfully achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. Prof Sharma emphasized the need to focus on job creation and also startup in plenty utilising the great opportunity that India has in the age of AI. We all need to work together to create more opportunities for young people and nurture them as responsible citizens who can contribute to the nation’s progress and sustainable development.

Speaking about the mission of the Academy, Prof. Sharma said that W-AHEAD is a global platform that brings together leaders from education, industry and society to promote excellence in higher education and development. Through research, innovation, youth skilling programmes and community outreach initiatives, W-AHEAD seeks to empower individuals and institutions to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Guided by the values of integrity, inclusivity, collaboration and sustainability, the Academy is committed to promoting lifelong learning, strengthening AI and digital skills, encouraging social responsibility and supporting environmental consciousness. Prof. Sharma, founding Vice Chancellor of DTU and former President of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), said that the future of India depends on empowering young people not only with knowledge and technology but also with strong values and a sense of responsibility towards society and the environment.

During his inaugural address, Dr Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Government of India, highlighted the importance of skill development in building a self-reliant and developed India. Dr Choudhary stressed that young people must be prepared not only with technological knowledge but also with a strong sense of responsibility towards society and nation building. Dr Choudhary emphasized that in an era driven by Artificial Intelligence and rapid technological advancements, youth must continuously upgrade their skills and remain adaptable to changing needs of the workforce. Dr Choudhary also underscored the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship and value-based education in creating future leaders capable of addressing national and global challenges. Minister Dr Choudhary called upon educational institutions, industry and policymakers to work together in creating an enabling ecosystem that empowers young people to contribute meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr V.K. Saraswat, Former Member, NITI Aayog and former Director General, DRDO, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry. Dr Saraswat highlighted that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, advanced manufacturing and clean energy are creating new opportunities and that universities must prepare students for these rapidly changing sectors. Dr Saraswat highlighted that the future workforce will require not only technical expertise but also problem-solving abilities, creativity, adaptability and an innovation-driven mindset. Dr Saraswat stressed the importance of interdisciplinary learning, research and industry exposure to make students globally competitive and industry-ready. Dr Saraswat further urged higher education institutions to align their curricula with emerging technologies and national priorities so that young graduates can play a meaningful role in driving innovation, economic growth and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

A major attraction of the event was the presentation of the Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Excellence Awards 2026 by W-AHEAD to outstanding innovators and startup teams from leading institutions including IIT Roorkee, Delhi Technological University, KIIT College of Engineering, Acropolis Institute of Technology and Research, Genvolve Pvt. Ltd., Jellyfish Technologies and NAYAN Technologies. Their innovations covered areas such as healthcare, clean energy, sustainability, artificial intelligence and social impact. The Academy W-AHEAD also honoured Shri Raghuraj Pratap Singh, Founder of Raghuraj Peeple Foundation with Global Sustainability Excellence Award-2026 for his outstanding contributions to environmental protection and sustainability.

On the occasion, the July 2026, a Special Issue of the W-AHEAD Newsletter “Horizons”and two inspiring books authored by Prof. E. Balagurusamy “Success Mantras for Progressive Teachers” and “Mantras for Success and Happiness”, were also launched by the dignitaries at the inaugural session. Another book on “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity” by Dr SB Saraswat and Rishi Saraswat was also released.

The celebration also witnessed the conferment of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the prestigious Fellow of Eminence of W-AHEAD honour upon eminent academician Prof. E. Balagurusamy for his exceptional contributions to higher education, technology and public service with dignity and integrity.

Fellowships of Eminence were also conferred upon distinguished personalities including globally renowned innovator and entrepreneur of great eminence Shri Raj Soin, Chairman, Soin International, Dayton, Ohio, USA; Eminent diplomat Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra; Eminent Educationist and outstanding innovator Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee; Outstanding Acoustic Engineering scientist Dr Mahavir Singh; Prof. Manell E. Zakharia, President of the European Acoustics Association; and Prof. Marion Burgess, former President of the International Commission for Acoustics.

A panel discussion on “Skilling in the Age of AI, Up-Skilling and Lifelong Learning”brought together leading experts from academia, industry and government. The session was chaired by Prof. R.K. Khandal, Former Vice Chancellor, UPTU and Dr. H.R.P. Yadav, Former DG, IE(I) moderated the session. The panel featured Prof. Mahesh Verma, VC GGSIPU, Prof. K.K. Pant, Director IIT Roorkee, Er. V.K. Yadav, Former Chairman Railway Board, Er. Pradeep Chaturvedi, Vice President INAE, Prof. Sanjna Vij, Director AASC AUH, Prof AK Tandon, Professor Emeritus, FoT of DU and Dr. Mahavir Singh,Principal Director KIIT who highlighted the importance of continuous learning, digital literacy, AI readiness and industry-aligned skills for success in a rapidly evolving world.

Another panel discussion on “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the New Age” explored emerging opportunities for startups, technology-driven enterprises and innovation-led growth. The session was chaired by Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Vishwakarma Skill University, Haryana, with Dr. Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU, as Co-Chair and Dr. M.N. Hoda, Director, BVICAM, as Moderator. The panel featured Mr. Aurbind Sharma, CEO of Ted Consulting, Dr. S.C. Sharma, Director Acropolis Indore, Prof. S. Indu, Eminent Professor of DTU, Mr. Vivek Dhawan, CEO of Smriti Netcom and Mr. Yash Chaudhary, CEO of FLABS who shared valuable insights on taking flights of innovation, entrepreneurship, industry collaboration and the role of startups in shaping India’s future economic trajectories of accelerated growth and development.

The valedictory session was graced by Padma Vibhushan Prof. (Dr.) Murli Manohar Joshi, Former Union Minister of Human Resource Development. Addressing the gathering, Prof Joshi urged educational institutions to integrate knowledge, values, innovation and skills to prepare youth for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Prof Joshi emphasized that education should not be limited to acquiring degrees but should focus on building character, nurturing scientific temper and developing a spirit of service towards society and the nation. Highlighting India’s rich intellectual and cultural heritage, Prof Joshi called upon young people to combine modern knowledge and technology with ethical values and social responsibility. Prof. Joshi further stressed that empowered and skilled youth will play a pivotal role in realizing the vision of a strong, self-reliant and developed India by 2047.

Aligning with the global 2026 theme, “Skills for a Shared Future,” the summit emphasized a critical paradigm shift: equipping India’s vast youth population not just with cutting-edge technical expertise but anchored heavily in the core life skills of integrity and sustainability.

The summit concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on Youth Skills and AI for Viksit Bharat@2047, presented by Prof. P. R. Trivedi, Executive Chairman, W-AHEAD and Founder, IIEE.

The New Delhi Declaration outlined a forward-looking agenda for empowering India’s youth through future-ready skills, responsible and inclusive use of Artificial Intelligence, digital and technological literacy, innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and green skills, lifelong learning, industry-academia partnerships, women and youth empowerment, promotion of Indian Knowledge Systems and strengthening global collaboration for talent development and mobility.

The Declaration further emphasized the need to create AI-enabled learning ecosystems, encourage youth-led innovation and startups, foster interdisciplinary learning and develop resilient human capabilities that complement emerging technologies in the journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047.

The distinguished gathering comprising policymakers, academicians, scientists, industry leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, educators and students warmly endorsed the Declaration and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing its vision through collective action, collaboration, and sustained engagement.