In partnership with SmartBridge and supported by the IndiaAI Mission and MeitY, Salesforce aims to democratize AI education across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, empowering India’s next generation of AI innovators.
NFAPost, Bengaluru: Salesforce, the world’s leading AI-powered CRM platform, has announced a major national skilling initiative—‘YuvaAI Bharat: GenAI Skill Catalyst’—that aims to train 100,000 learners in artificial intelligence by 2026. The initiative, led by SmartBridge and strategically supported by the IndiaAI Mission and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), seeks to equip students and professionals across India with future-ready AI and digital skills.
The collaboration underscores Salesforce’s long-term commitment to India’s digital transformation and aligns with the government’s vision of making India a global AI hub. Through this initiative, learners from both academia and industry will gain hands-on exposure to AI-driven business applications using Salesforce’s Trailhead—a free, gamified online learning platform designed to make technology education accessible to all.
Building a Skilled AI Workforce for the Future
Under the program, participants will undergo a blended learning journey comprising live expert-led sessions and self-paced modules on Trailhead. The curriculum focuses on practical, job-oriented skills, enabling learners to apply AI tools and concepts directly to real-world business challenges.
Upon completion, learners will earn digital credentials, including the prestigious “Agentblazer Champion Level”, validating their expertise in generative AI and business automation. This certification is designed to enhance employability and prepare participants for roles in an AI-first workforce.
The program places a strong emphasis on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge AI education and contributing to a more inclusive digital economy.
“India is Poised to Lead the Global AI Transformation”
Speaking on the launch, Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO, Salesforce South Asia, emphasized the pivotal role of Indian talent in shaping the AI-driven future.
“India, with its immense talent pool, is not just participating in the global AI transformation—it is poised to lead it. Unlocking this unprecedented AI opportunity requires equipping our people with future-ready AI skills to innovate and build the future,” she said.
“Our partnership with SmartBridge furthers the IndiaAI mission and embodies Salesforce’s deep commitment to fostering trusted, inclusive innovation in this agentic era—building a future where AI empowers everyone.”
Salesforce’s initiative also exposes learners to Agentforce, its enterprise-grade system for agentic AI that allows organizations to seamlessly integrate humans, agents, applications, and data on a unified platform—paving the way for the emergence of the “Agentic Enterprise.”
Bridging Academia and Industry
For SmartBridge, the program aligns perfectly with its mission to close the talent gap in emerging technologies through experiential learning.
Amarendar Katkam, Founder and CEO of SmartBridge, said:
“At SmartBridge, our mission has always been to bridge the gap between academia and industry by making emerging technology skills accessible to all. Partnering with Salesforce and IndiaAI allows us to scale this vision nationwide—empowering students, educators, and professionals with the practical, job-ready AI skills needed to thrive in the future workforce.”
Since its founding in 2015, SmartBridge has built an extensive ecosystem of 2,700 educational institutions and 1.5 million learners, driving project-based, industry-integrated learning across India.
Empowering India’s Youth Through the IndiaAI Mission
The ‘YuvaAI Bharat’ initiative represents one of the most ambitious AI skilling drives under the IndiaAI Mission, backed by MeitY. It aligns with the government’s goal to develop a skilled AI-ready workforce capable of driving innovation and contributing to the nation’s digital economy.
Smt. Kavita Bhatia, Group Coordinator (AI & Emerging Technologies Division, MeitY) and COO, IndiaAI, highlighted the importance of such public-private partnerships in nurturing the next generation of innovators.
“India’s youth are the driving force of our AI future. Through the YuvaAI program under the IndiaAI Mission, we aim to unlock their potential with the right skills and opportunities,” she said.
“‘YuvaAI Bharat: GenAI Skill Catalyst’ reflects this spirit—bringing together government, academia, and industry to inspire and train the next generation of AI innovators. We welcome partners like Salesforce and SmartBridge in shaping this transformative journey.”
Trailhead: Learning Without Barriers
Salesforce’s Trailhead platform has been a cornerstone of its global skilling ecosystem. The platform democratizes learning by offering free, self-paced training modules and certifications that cover in-demand skills such as AI, data analytics, CRM, and automation.
With over 3.9 million Trailblazers in India, the community is one of the fastest-growing in the Salesforce ecosystem. More than 3,000 colleges already leverage Trailhead to train students and faculty in AI and CRM technologies—helping bridge the skills gap between education and employment.
A Collective Step Toward an AI-First India
By combining Salesforce’s AI leadership, SmartBridge’s educational reach, and IndiaAI’s strategic guidance, the ‘YuvaAI Bharat: GenAI Skill Catalyst’ program aims to position India as a global leader in AI talent development.
As the world transitions into an AI-first economy, such collaborative initiatives represent a crucial step toward ensuring that India’s workforce remains competitive, creative, and future-ready.
About Salesforce:
Salesforce helps organizations of any size become agentic enterprises—integrating humans, agents, apps, and data on a trusted, unified platform to unlock unprecedented growth and innovation.
www.salesforce.com/in
About SmartBridge:
Founded in 2015, SmartBridge is a leading talent accelerator and edtech organization dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and industry through project-based learning and demand-driven skill development. It has empowered over 1.5 million learners and 2,700 institutions across India.
www.thesmartbridge.com
