Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasised the importance of education, training and employment as the three pillars essential for building a developed India by 2047 during the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Employment Mahakumbh in Mumbai on September 29. He stressed the need for India’s young population to continuously acquire new skills amid rapid technological changes.
Addressing the event organised as part of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ launched across Maharashtra to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years as head of government, Fadnavis said: “Narendra Modi completed 25 years as the Head of the State. On this occasion, we have started Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, and in this we organised this important programme, an employment fair.”
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He noted that education and employment were vital aspects of human life that would play a key role in India’s development by 2047. “Developing education, training, and employment human resources is the most important issue in our country. This is what will help us build the developed India of 2047—moving toward our dream of a poverty-free, unemployment-free, and disease-free India,” he said.
Fadnavis explained that the employment fair was held in the name of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, whose philosophy of Antyodaya focuses on uplifting the last person in society and achieving economic equality. “A thought process that truly prepares people can make India genuinely economically strong. That’s why we need a different kind of alternative thinking instead of capitalism and communism—a way of thinking where everyone has work, where every person matters, and where we figure out how to bring the very last person in society right to the front,” he said. “The idea of Antyodaya is rooted in this kind of thinking, which views humanity as a unified whole. It’s a philosophy of integrated humanism.”
He added that the Skill Development Department had planned around 2,000 events under the employment initiative, with over 400 employment fairs taking place on that day at various locations. “Unfortunately, we had planned to launch all the rallies together, but we couldn’t because of the election code of conduct. Still, I’m glad that today over 400 rallies are kicking off in a single day,” he stated.
Fadnavis said the initiative aimed to bridge the gap between employers seeking staff and young people looking for jobs. “We’ve brought together everyone looking for a job and those who are hiring, and all of them are joining us here online today. Basically, if you think about it, the most important issue today is employment,” he remarked. “If you ask any young man or woman what their biggest problem is, they’ll tell you it’s finding a job. If you ask any entrepreneur what their biggest problem is, they’ll say they can’t find the right workforce—they just can’t get the workers and staff they need.”
He described the initiative as the missing link in addressing these challenges. “Today, through this job fair, we’re bringing all the employers together. Tell us what your needs are—what kind of human resources you’re looking for; just let us know. Then, we’ll categorise the available human resources we have, train them accordingly,” Fadnavis said.
Nearly 100,000 young men and women had registered for the employment initiative, with the government aiming to provide jobs to at least 50,000 individuals immediately and continuing efforts to place the remaining candidates. “Around 1 lakh young men and women have already registered. Our goal is to provide jobs to at least 50,000 people right away, but this is just the first phase. We’ll also make sure to consistently find jobs for the remaining 50,000,” he added.
Fadnavis highlighted that possessing a degree alone was insufficient; young people needed skills aligned with job market requirements. “We need to realise one thing today: just having knowledge isn’t enough. Along with gaining knowledge, acquiring skills is also important. Together, knowledge and skills can guide us through today’s world. Otherwise, just having a degree isn’t enough to get a job,” he said. “A degree is necessary, but the skills you get along with it are even more important. We can figure out how employable we are based on how much of our knowledge is actually applied.”
He urged young people to update their skills continually as technology advances rapidly, citing developments in Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, quantum engineering and quantum computing. “And now, with technology changing so fast—whether it’s Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, or quantum engineering—all of these things, including quantum computing… Things are changing on a massive scale, even in terms of our different skills,” Fadnavis noted. “We’ll constantly have to think about how to upgrade our skills. The days are gone when you’d just get a job, work for 30, 35, or 40 years, and retire. That’s just not how it works anymore.”
He added: “In the future, the different challenges you face in your job will keep changing. The nature of the work you do will constantly evolve, and new technology will keep getting added. Because of this, you need to keep learning, keep picking up new skills, and stay prepared for the times.”
Fadnavis observed that the present generation had grown up with technology and was familiar with smartphones, computers and other advancements but must ensure they remain qualified for the evolving job market. “This entire generation right in front of us was actually born with technology. If you look at today’s generation, we’re aware of technology. Thanks to the mobile, smartphone, and computer revolutions, almost everyone knows what’s going on in the tech world and beyond,” he said. “But we shouldn’t just stop at knowing about it. We also need to figure out if we’re qualified for the changing job market that comes with it.”
He encouraged the youth to be open to new opportunities and to continuously gain knowledge and skills. “So, just staying in a fixed state or maintaining a status quo in life isn’t enough. You have to stay dynamic, keep flowing, and always be open to something new,” he said. “We need to gain knowledge, develop the ability to try new things, and build courage. Today, there are so many opportunities in the world, and so many in India. Connecting with these opportunities is our main priority, and your government is here to help you do just that.”
Fadnavis also remarked that the Skill Development Department and other government entities had initiated various training courses to prepare young people for employment. “Whether it’s the Skill Development Department or various other departments, they have started so many different training courses that can definitely help make you job-ready, and that’s exactly why we’re holding today’s gathering,” he said.
The Employment Mahakumbh formed part of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, which includes multiple employment fairs across Maharashtra to connect job seekers with potential employers.