The Ratan Tata Skills University convocation in Mumbai, Maharashtra, highlighted the growing importance of combining academic degrees with practical skills. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan urged students to focus on employability, adaptability, and lifelong learning in a rapidly evolving job market. Leaders, including Devendra Fadnavis and Jishnu Dev Varma, emphasised innovation, AI readiness, and entrepreneurship as key drivers of future growth. The event underscored the role of skill-based education in strengthening India’s workforce and positioning the country as a global hub for industry-ready talent.

Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University convocation: C. P. Radhakrishnan urges youth to pair degrees with skills

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan urged youth to combine degrees with skills at the Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University convocation, as leaders including Devendra Fadnavis, Jishnu Dev Varma and Sunetra Ajit Pawar highlighted innovation, AI training and entrepreneurship opportunities.

At the first convocation in Mumbai, leaders including Jishnu Dev Varma, Devendra Fadnavis, Sunetra Ajit Pawar and Mangalprabhat Lodha told students that skills, values and adaptability will shape India’s future.

The Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University convocation in Mumbai placed youth aspirations at the centre, with Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan says degrees must translate into employability, entrepreneurship and social responsibility.

Speaking at Darbar Hall, Lok Bhavan, C. P. Radhakrishnan said students should combine technical knowledge, soft skills and adaptability, while taking inspiration from Ratan Tata’s example of ethical, socially conscious enterprise.

The ceremony was attended by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Apurva Palakar and senior officials.

Those present also included Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Verma, Skill Development Commissioner Dr. Amit Saini, and Directorate head Dr. Satish Suryavanshi, alongside graduating students and faculty.

Radhakrishnan said the university’s first graduating cohort had become part of institutional history and could help position India as a global skill hub through industry-ready learning.

He said curricula must evolve with industrial demand and include artificial intelligence, robotics, green energy and data analytics, while urging young Indians to embrace lifelong learning and workplace discipline.

Citing Japan’s post-war rise, he said progress comes from dedication and focus, adding that students should use platforms such as Skill India and PM-DAKSH to stay competitive.

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Jishnu Dev Varma and Devendra Fadnavis stress innovation, reskilling and AI readiness

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma said universities must protect innovation and experimentation, while reinforcing character, responsibility and resilience in a fast-changing world shaped by geopolitical uncertainty and economic disruption.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised skilling, reskilling and upskilling, and noted the university’s potential to support all three in a rapidly transforming employment landscape.

Referring to HSNC University, he recalled that Ratan Tata had earlier received an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) in the same Darbar Hall, linking institutional vision with public purpose.

Devendra Fadnavis said demographic strength alone is insufficient unless young people receive quality education, healthcare and advanced training in areas such as AI and manufacturing.

He said the university’s AI Living Lab gives students practical exposure to real industry problems, while a collaboration with Microsoft has already trained 10,000 women in artificial intelligence.

Fadnavis added that Maharashtra attracts 31% of India’s total foreign direct investment, remains strong in startups and unicorns, and recently signed Rs 30 lakh crore worth of agreements at Davos.

Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Mangalprabhat Lodha and Apurva Palakar frame a youth-first vision

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar described the convocation as a tribute to students’ hard work and aspirations, saying new training centres and schemes are expanding opportunities across Maharashtra.

She referred to the modernisation of the Aundh ITI, the Mahima initiative, Navdisha Kendras planned across 36 locations, and the Chief Minister’s Mahafund supporting promising young entrepreneurs.

Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha said skill development is the backbone of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, arguing that India’s historic economic strength came from household capability, micro-enterprise and practical knowledge.

He also referenced the exhibition gallery dedicated to the late Jayant Sahasrabuddhe, and said the university should preserve not only technical excellence but also social values and public-minded leadership.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. Apurva Palakar said more than 25,000 students received certificates and degrees, while the university built partnerships with Rubika in France, East Tennessee State University in the United States, and Leipzig University in Germany.

She said 700 students were being trained in German for overseas employment, while 25 startup founders were receiving monthly Amrit funding, and 160 colleges had launched pre-incubation centres.

Palakar added that under the RAMP project, around 10,000 women, students and youth have been trained for small and medium enterprises, while a Rs 17 crore home department project supports big data analytics and face recognition systems.

Gold medals were awarded to Murtaza Arihusein Kadiyani for cloud computing, Avinash Vasant Borse for cybersecurity, Arvan Abhay Upadhyay for digital marketing, N. Vaishnavi, Shweta P., and Rekha Ashish Salunkhe in laboratory disciplines.

Institutions honoured included Tarabai Modak Women’s Industrial Education and Training Institute, Latur, Raje Vishweshwarrao Aatram, Gadchiroli, and Devgiri Industrial Education and Training Institute, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. A Say No to Drugs campaign was also launched.

The Jayant Sahasrabuddhe skill-based exhibition featured Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startups Scheme beneficiaries and stalls from Toyota Kirloskar, Atlas, Hindustan Aeronautics, Dassault Aviation, Ronnie Screwvala’s Swades Foundation, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Rural Development Trust.