National Forum in Pune to Define Skills Agenda for Indian Youth Under Industry 5.0 Framework

Pune: The FUEL Annual Conclave and Future Skills Summit 2026 will convene thought leaders, policymakers, educationists, industry representatives and civil society in Pune on February 6 to shape a skills strategy for Indian youth that reflects the demands of Industry 5.0. The event will take place on the Friends Union for Energising Lives (FUEL) campus and emphasise future skill priorities, industry-academia cooperation and partnerships for scaled skilling interventions.

Organisers say the summit will explore the competencies young Indians will require in emerging sectors while also strengthening collaboration between government, industry and academic institutions. A key highlight will be an announcement by FUEL on a significant milestone achieved under India’s Social Stock Exchange (SSE) platform, designed to boost transparency, accountability and measurable social outcomes for education and skilling projects, particularly for first-generation learners, women and underserved groups.

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar will be the chief guest at the conclave. Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil will be present as guest of honour. Discussions will open with inaugural addresses and keynote sessions focussing on the future of education, leadership preparedness and stronger engagement between government and industry.

Following the opening session, focused panels will discuss emerging skill sets, models of human-centric learning, employability pathways for youth and CSR-led training initiatives. The summit will conclude with a Recognition of Excellence ceremony to honour individuals and organisations that have made notable contributions to education, youth empowerment and skill development.

FUEL’s founder and chairman Ketan Deshpande said the conclave is intended to move beyond broad debate and build practical pathways to prepare India’s youth for future work opportunities. The SSE milestone, he noted, will deepen CSR and philanthropic involvement in measurable, high-impact programs that extend training to marginalised sections.

Organisers expect the event to strengthen engagement among key stakeholders in policy, academia and industry to support the creation of a skilled, inclusive workforce aligned with the next industrial era.