New Delhi, July 9: Stressing that education must go beyond imparting degrees to creating innovators, entrepreneurs and responsible citizens, Dr. Laxmikant Bajpai, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and National Vice President, BJP, today said that education must connect learning with employment, innovation and nation-building to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasised that a developed India can only be built through the collective efforts of government, academia, industry and society, with education serving as the foundation for creating future-ready talent.
Dr. Bajpai was delivering the inaugural address at the 18th National Education Leadership & Skill Development Summit 2026, organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India on the theme "Education for Viksit Bharat: Bridging Aspirations with Transformation." The summit brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, academic leaders, industry experts and educationists to deliberate on strengthening India's higher education ecosystem in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Laxmikant Bajpai said,
"Viksit Bharat is not merely an economic aspiration; it is a national mission built on knowledge, innovation, technology and our civilisational values. Education must teach students not only what to think, but how to think. It must connect learning with employment, research with societal needs, and innovation with entrepreneurship. A developed India can only be built through the collective efforts of government, academia, industry and society."
The summit witnessed the participation of eminent policymakers, education leaders and industry experts such as, Mr. Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra, Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Education & Chancellor, Shobhit University; Dr Madhu Chitkara, Co-Chairpeson ASSOCHAM National Council on Education, President & Co- Founders, Chitkara University; Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities , Dr. J.A. Chowdary, Founder & Chairman, International Startup Foundation and Former Special Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Shri Brijmohan Agrawal, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; and Dr. Shashank Shah, Director (Senior Specialist – Higher Education/Viksit Bharat Perspective Planning & Visioning), NITI Aayog, Government of India.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Col. Saurabh Sanyal (Retd.), Secretary General, ASSOCHAM, said:
"The vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 can only be realised through an education ecosystem that is innovative, inclusive and closely aligned with industry needs. As technology reshapes every sector, our institutions must move beyond conventional learning to nurture employability, entrepreneurship and innovation. ASSOCHAM remains committed to creating platforms that bring together government, academia and industry to build a globally competitive and future-ready workforce."
Delivering the thematic address, Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities , highlighted the transformative impact of NEP 2020 and called for stronger collaboration between universities and industry.
"NEP 2020 has introduced unprecedented flexibility through multidisciplinary education, multiple entry-exit pathways and the Academic Bank of Credits, enabling students to learn without boundaries. The next priority is to build stronger university-industry linkages. We had envisioned a '100 Universities–100 Industries' initiative to create structured partnerships for skilling and employability, and we look forward to collaborating with ASSOCHAM to make this vision a reality."
Mr. Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra, Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Education and Co-Founder & Chancellor, Shobhit University said,
"India's education ecosystem is witnessing a transformational shift under the National Education Policy 2020, providing a strong foundation for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The time has now come to convert this vision into meaningful action through stronger collaboration between academia, industry and policymakers. Bridging the gap between education and employment remains one of our foremost priorities. ASSOCHAM is committed to creating a collaborative platform that brings together universities, industry and government to share best practices, foster innovation and strengthen employability, ensuring our youth are equipped to lead India's growth story."
Padma Shri Swami Dr. Bharat Bhushan, Founder, Mokshayatan Yoga Institute address the august gathering and felicitated the Awards winners. The valedictory address was delivered by Prof. D.P. Singh, Chancellor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Former Chairman, University Grants Commission .
The event concluded with the 18th National ASSOCHAM Education Leadership & Skill Development Awards, recognising institutions and individuals for their outstanding contributions to excellence in education, innovation and skill development.
The summit focused on strengthening industry-academia collaboration, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, leveraging Artificial Intelligence and EdTech, promoting internationalisation of higher education, and equipping students with future-ready skills aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.
