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Indias Rajya Sabha MP Announces AI Skills Centre for Panchkula to Empower Youth
On Sunday, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Kartikeya Sharma announced that a major artificial‑intelligence (AI) skills centre would soon be established in Panchkula, a satellite city of Chandigarh in Haryana. The announcement was made during a Yuva Jan Samvad session at the PWD Rest House, where Sharma highlighted AI and technology‑driven entrepreneurship as key tools for involving young Indians in the country’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Sharma, who represents Haryana in the upper house of Parliament and is the founder of ITV Media Network, said that India’s demographic dividend—about 65 % of the population is under 35—provides a unique opportunity to harness the energy, ideas and capabilities of its youth. He noted that the entrepreneurial ecosystem has shifted beyond traditional metropolitan hubs, citing that more than 100 unicorns have emerged in India, with 70‑80 % of the young entrepreneurs behind these ventures coming from Tier‑II and Tier‑III cities rather than Delhi or Mumbai.
The AI skills centre, as described by Sharma, will aim to equip local students and professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to develop AI solutions and launch technology‑driven businesses. While the exact location, funding model and curriculum have not yet been disclosed, the initiative aligns with the Indian government’s broader AI strategy, which includes the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for AI in Education with a Rs 500 cr outlay announced in the 2025‑26 Union Budget.
Panchkula itself is part of the Chandigarh Tricity, a metropolitan region that includes Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. The city, which lies 4 km southeast of Chandigarh, has a planned sector‑based layout and hosts the Chandimandir Cantonment, the headquarters of the Western Command of the Indian Army. According to the 2021 census, the Chandigarh‑Tricity area has a combined population of over 2 million, making it a significant hub for regional development.
India’s AI market has grown rapidly in recent years. According to industry estimates, the market reached $8 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 40 % from 2020 to 2025. The growth has been driven by a surge in startups, government initiatives such as the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, and the increasing adoption of AI across sectors including healthcare, finance and education.
Sharma’s remarks also touched on the importance of removing geographic and social barriers for young entrepreneurs. “The changing ecosystem has created opportunities for youngsters to turn ideas into successful enterprises without being constrained by their social or geographical background,” he said. “The youth must identify opportunities in time and become active participants in the country’s development.”
The announcement comes at a time when several states and cities across India are launching AI training programmes and skill development centres. For example, the state of Karnataka has announced a new AI research hub, and the city of Bengaluru has expanded its AI training capacity to meet the demand of a growing tech industry.
While the Panchkula AI skills centre has not yet released a detailed plan, stakeholders expect it to include modules on machine learning fundamentals, data science, AI ethics, and entrepreneurship. The centre may also partner with local universities and industry players to provide internships and real‑world project experience.
The initiative is expected to contribute to the national objective of building a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and supporting India’s ambition to become a developed economy by 2047. It also aligns with the government’s emphasis on leveraging the country’s youthful population to sustain economic growth.
As of now, no official timeline has been announced for the opening of the centre, and no funding details have been disclosed. The government’s next steps will likely involve coordination with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Education, and local authorities in Panchkula.
In summary, the announcement by MP Kartikeya Sharma signals a renewed focus on AI education and entrepreneurship in Tier‑II cities. If implemented, the Panchkula AI skills centre could become a model for similar initiatives across India, helping to unlock the potential of the country’s large and growing youth demographic.
Sharma, who represents Haryana in the upper house of Parliament and is the founder of ITV Media Network, said that India’s demographic dividend—about 65 % of the population is under 35—provides a unique opportunity to harness the energy, ideas and capabilities of its youth. He noted that the entrepreneurial ecosystem has shifted beyond traditional metropolitan hubs, citing that more than 100 unicorns have emerged in India, with 70‑80 % of the young entrepreneurs behind these ventures coming from Tier‑II and Tier‑III cities rather than Delhi or Mumbai.
The AI skills centre, as described by Sharma, will aim to equip local students and professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to develop AI solutions and launch technology‑driven businesses. While the exact location, funding model and curriculum have not yet been disclosed, the initiative aligns with the Indian government’s broader AI strategy, which includes the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for AI in Education with a Rs 500 cr outlay announced in the 2025‑26 Union Budget.
Panchkula itself is part of the Chandigarh Tricity, a metropolitan region that includes Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. The city, which lies 4 km southeast of Chandigarh, has a planned sector‑based layout and hosts the Chandimandir Cantonment, the headquarters of the Western Command of the Indian Army. According to the 2021 census, the Chandigarh‑Tricity area has a combined population of over 2 million, making it a significant hub for regional development.
India’s AI market has grown rapidly in recent years. According to industry estimates, the market reached $8 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 40 % from 2020 to 2025. The growth has been driven by a surge in startups, government initiatives such as the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, and the increasing adoption of AI across sectors including healthcare, finance and education.
Sharma’s remarks also touched on the importance of removing geographic and social barriers for young entrepreneurs. “The changing ecosystem has created opportunities for youngsters to turn ideas into successful enterprises without being constrained by their social or geographical background,” he said. “The youth must identify opportunities in time and become active participants in the country’s development.”
The announcement comes at a time when several states and cities across India are launching AI training programmes and skill development centres. For example, the state of Karnataka has announced a new AI research hub, and the city of Bengaluru has expanded its AI training capacity to meet the demand of a growing tech industry.
While the Panchkula AI skills centre has not yet released a detailed plan, stakeholders expect it to include modules on machine learning fundamentals, data science, AI ethics, and entrepreneurship. The centre may also partner with local universities and industry players to provide internships and real‑world project experience.
The initiative is expected to contribute to the national objective of building a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and supporting India’s ambition to become a developed economy by 2047. It also aligns with the government’s emphasis on leveraging the country’s youthful population to sustain economic growth.
As of now, no official timeline has been announced for the opening of the centre, and no funding details have been disclosed. The government’s next steps will likely involve coordination with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Education, and local authorities in Panchkula.
In summary, the announcement by MP Kartikeya Sharma signals a renewed focus on AI education and entrepreneurship in Tier‑II cities. If implemented, the Panchkula AI skills centre could become a model for similar initiatives across India, helping to unlock the potential of the country’s large and growing youth demographic.
