FutureReady Skills: Orientation & Awareness Workshop Series for ITI & Polytechnic Students by Chandigarh Administration

Chandigarh | February 24–25, 2026:The Chandigarh Institute for Transformation (CIT), under the State Support Mission (SSM) of NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Chandigarh Skill Development Mission (CSDM), Centre for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (CSDE), Panjab University, and National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Chandigarh, organised a two-day “FutureReady Skills: Orientation and Awareness Workshop Series” for ITI and Polytechnic students on February 24–25, 2026.

The inaugural session was graced by Sh. Diprava Lakra, IAS, Finance Secretary-cum-Planning Secretary, UT Chandigarh, as Chief Guest. He also played a key role in establishing CIT-SSM under the Planning Department. Sh. Nitish Singla, PCS, Mission Director, CSDM, attended as Guest of Honour and emphasised the need to align skill development with evolving labour market demands, strengthen industry linkages, and equip youth for long-term career progression rather than short-term employment alone.

Reports prepared by the Lead Knowledge Institute (LKI) at Panjab University through CSDE were released by Prof. Suveera Gill, highlighting findings from skill-gap mapping studies, institutional visits, and stakeholder consultations.

A key highlight of the workshop was a session on Artificial Intelligence and the Skill Ecosystem delivered by Sh. Ashish Srivastav, Technology Partner of LKI. In alignment with the national vision of the Skill India Mission and Viksit Bharat 2047, and the recent AI Summit at New Delhi, the session demonstrated how AI is transforming job roles across sectors and how technical students can leverage AI tools for upskilling, productivity enhancement, career planning, CV building, and job readiness. Practical applications relevant to ITI and Polytechnic trades, including AI-enabled design, diagnostics, automation support, and decision-making tools, were discussed. Students were encouraged to adopt AI responsibly as a lifelong learning companion rather than view it as a threat to employment.

Other sessions covered themes such as Industry 4.0 and 5.0, workplace ethics, professional behaviour, emerging skilling trends, and labour market requirements. Experts from industry and academia highlighted how traditional trades are evolving in technology-driven environments and stressed the importance of communication skills, discipline, adaptability, and continuous learning.

Dr. Rajat Bhatnagar, North Head – NSDC International, introduced the SIDH portal and outlined pathways for safe and legal overseas employment, which generated considerable interest among participants.

The valedictory session was graced by Smt. Anuradha S. Chagti, CSS, Special Secretary Finance-cum-Planning, UT Administration, who appreciated the initiative and highlighted the importance of leadership with a human touch in a rapidly evolving world of work.

The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and faculty, serving as an important platform to bridge the gap between training institutions, industry expectations, and future employment opportunities.