AI & the Future of Work: Building an Equitable India

From classrooms to careers, and from everyday spaces to workplaces, artificial intelligence is already reshaping how Indians learn, work, and earn. No longer a future promise, AI is redefining job roles, access to opportunity, and pathways to economic mobility across the country.

To address this shift, Anudip Foundation hosted a pre-summit event for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 titled “AI and the Future of Work: Building an Equitable India.” The event emerged as a resounding success, spotlighting AI’s transformative role in reshaping the future of work and expanding opportunities for marginalized communities. Bringing together industry leaders, government representatives, and social organizations, the convening marked a meaningful step toward building a more inclusive AI ecosystem in a diverse country like India. Through focused sessions, the discussions explored skilling frameworks, responsible AI development, and the power of cross-sector collaboration to drive impact at scale. The event also featured compelling student career journeys and live AI project showcases, offering tangible evidence of resilient, future-ready training in action.

Focus Areas of the Pre-Summit

Women in AI Leadership

Building pathways for women to lead, innovate, and shape the AI workforce

Inclusive AI Access

Ensuring AI skilling reaches underserved and underrepresented communities

Reskilling for Workforce Resilience

Preparing today’s workforce for AI-driven jobs and transitions

Industry–Civil Society Collaboration

Mobilising corporate and nonprofit partnerships to scale impact

Panel 1: AI at Scale: Power of Collaboration

This panel examined what it truly takes to build a scalable AI future for India. A clear and consistent message emerged throughout the discussion: collaboration. The conversation explored how governments, corporates, social institutions, and educational bodies can work hand in hand to drive inclusive, large-scale progress and reach every level of India’s AI ecosystem.

Panel 2: Reskilling for Resilience

This panel focused on building resilience in AI skilling, emphasizing how students engage with and absorb AI training. The discussion highlighted the need for programs that help learners distinguish between AI’s utility and its pitfalls, ensuring they use AI as an enabler—not a crutch. Panelists stressed that AI education must strengthen, not replace, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as overdependence on technology risks cognitive decline and undermines long-term resilience for future generations.

Panel 3: AI Solutions for Inclusion

This panel explored AI solutions for inclusion, focusing on how AI can be trained to avoid bias and algorithmic exclusion. Panelists shared how their organizations design and deploy AI systems with inclusion at the core. A key solution highlighted was the hyper-localization of AI annotation—leveraging sectoral and grassroots expertise to train models that are more representative, inclusive, and unbiased in their outcomes.

Cup of Connections

This unique session featured a candid dialogue between Anudip alumni and CEO Monisha Banerjee. Alumni shared their personal journeys from the margins to meaningful roles within the corporate AI workforce, reflecting on the evolving nature of today’s work environment. They also spoke about the importance of continuous upskilling to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready in their careers.

Student’s Project Showcases

Anudip students presented impactful AI projects—AI-powered Financial Tracker and Planner, AI-Automated Interviewer, and UltraWatch: Micro Disaster Guard—demonstrating strong real-world capabilities and the powerful potential of talent from underserved communities.

Event Gallery

Meet Our Speakers

Pradyumna Bhattacharjee

Education Specialist, Org – World Bank

Pradyumna Bhattacharjee brings deep experience in skills development, workforce systems, and education reform. His work across skills training, inclusion of girls and disadvantaged groups, and institutional strengthening offers critical insights into designing evidence-led, inclusive pathways for AI-ready education and workforce development at scale.

Lavanya Jayram

AVPN's Regional Director for South Asia

Lavanya leads efforts to strengthen the social investment ecosystem across the region, mobilising philanthropy, corporate capital, and impact finance for large-scale social outcomes. Her perspective on cross-sector collaboration and capital deployment is critical to advancing inclusive AI, workforce readiness, and sustainable skilling initiatives at scale.

Ameya Vanjari

Chief Operating Officer at Tata STRIVE

Ameya Vanjari plays a central role in shaping large-scale skilling and workforce development initiatives aligned with industry needs. His experience across technology, digital transformation, and education systems brings valuable insights into building resilient, future-ready talent pathways for an AI-driven economy.

Satyajit Gupta

VP2 - Associate General Counsel & Head of India Legal & Global Head of CSR

Satyajit Gupta brings a strong perspective on governance, ethics, and responsible scale in technology-driven organisations. His experience in regulatory frameworks, risk management, and corporate social responsibility is central to discussions on building compliant, inclusive, and sustainable AI ecosystems through effective industry–civil society collaboration.

Syed Nazakat

Founder & CEO, DataLEADS

Syed Nazakat is a global voice on information integrity, AI governance, and digital resilience. His work with governments, technology platforms, and civil society on AI literacy, infodemic management, and ethical use of data brings a critical perspective on building trustworthy, inclusive AI ecosystems at scale—central to preparing societies and institutions for the AI age.

Pratima Harite

Head, Asia Pacific Corporate Citizenship, Lenovo Corporate Marketing Group

Pratima Harite leads large-scale initiatives at the intersection of inclusive technology, AI for social impact, and sustainability. Her experience in building AI-driven solutions for nonprofits and driving cross-sector collaboration brings a critical perspective on how industry can responsibly advance inclusive innovation and workforce readiness.

Sudeep George

Chief Technology Officer, iMerit

Sudeep George leads the development of scalable, responsible AI systems and next-generation data platforms. His expertise in AI deployment, multimodal intelligence, and human-AI collaboration offers key insights into building trustworthy AI solutions and preparing the workforce to operate safely, ethically, and effectively in an AI-driven world.

Moutushi Sengupta

Co-Founder & CEO, Oneworld Colab Pte Ltd | Senior Philanthropy and Systems Change Leader – Asia & Southeast Asia

Moutushi Sengupta brings deep expertise in systems change, catalytic philanthropy, and collaborative governance across India and Southeast Asia. Her work in mobilising capital, designing equity-anchored interventions, and strengthening institutional capacity offers a critical perspective on how cross-sector collaboration can drive inclusive, scalable solutions in an AI-shaped economy.

Santosh Abraham

Principal and Lead- Government Engagement, Sattva Consulting

Santosh Abraham brings deep experience in youth skilling, employability, and inclusive livelihoods. His work bridging government, industry, and the social sector offers valuable insights into how collaboration and policy alignment can accelerate scalable, inclusive workforce solutions in the AI era.

Manju D

CSR Lead, Microsoft Group, India

Manju works at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and economic opportunity. With deep experience across government, multilateral institutions, and the nonprofit sector, she brings a valuable perspective on building cross-sector alliances that leverage technology to create inclusive, scalable social impact in the AI era.

Jyoti Sharma

CEO, Nasscom Foundation

Jyoti Sharma is a seasoned development leader with over 25 years of experience driving large-scale, systemic change across education, livelihoods, gender equality, health, and climate resilience. She leads technology-enabled social initiatives that advance digital inclusion and future-ready skills. With a Master’s in Social Work from TISS, Jyoti brings deep expertise in strategy, policy advocacy, partnerships, and organizational leadership—leveraging cross-sector collaboration to accelerate sustainable and inclusive workforce transformation.

Gaurav Jain

Head of University Success, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, India

Gaurav Jain works at the intersection of higher education, technology reform, and workforce outcomes. His experience across public systems and skill innovation brings a valuable perspective on strengthening education-to-employment pathways and preparing young people for an AI-driven economy.

Manish Hada

Director, NavGurukul

Manish Hada is a product, growth, and strategy leader focused on building education-to-employment pathways for underserved youth. He drives technology-led curriculum, training, and placement initiatives that prepare learners for the digital economy. With a background spanning startups, consulting, and studies at Oxford’s Saïd Business School, Manish brings a sharp blend of business strategy and social impact to advancing inclusive workforce readiness.

Kshitija Krishnaswamy

Managing Director, Corporate Citizenship, Asia Pacific, Accenture

Kshitija Krishnaswamy drives strategic initiatives that align business growth with inclusive development, focusing on skilling, digital inclusion, and workforce readiness. Her work bridges corporate innovation with ecosystem partnerships, enabling scalable impact at the intersection of technology, talent, and social progress.

Aakanhsa Gulati

CEO, ACT Grants

Aakanksha Gulati brings cross-sectoral experience spanning investment banking, BCG consulting, and development leadership. As CEO of ACT Grants, she oversees venture-style philanthropy across Education, Health, and Women verticals, catalyzing partnerships between startups, NGOs, and public-private sectors to accelerate inclusive AI adoption and workforce readiness.

Rohini Kaul

Senior consultant, CSR - Kantar India and advisor, Givfunds

Rohini Kaul specializes in development sector strategy and venture development. Leading CSR at Kantar India Foundation and advising Givfunds, she bridges corporate resources with grassroots impact. Her expertise offers critical insights into designing sustainable models for industry-civil society collaboration in building AI-ready workforce ecosystems.