Salesforce on Tuesday announced a plan to train 1 million learners in India in artificial intelligence skills by 2030, marking the 10th anniversary of its India Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad.Arundhati Bhattacharya, president and CEO of Salesforce South Asia, said the initiative will use Trailhead, its free digital learning platform, to help students, faculty and workers move beyond basic digital literacy and prepare for emerging technology roles.Bhattacharya said the effort will combine govt-backed programmes with IndiaAI and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), virtual internships through AICTE, and academic centres of excellence with institutions including Manipal Academy of Higher Education. The programmes will offer practical training in Salesforce technologies, cloud, data and AI, along with project experience.The company’s partner network, including Accenture, Deloitte, Grant Thornton Bharat, Infosys, PwC and TCS, will also support structured curricula, mentoring and on-the-job exposure aimed at creating employment pathways in the Salesforce ecosystem.Pointing out that India is shaping global technology trends, she said this commitment reflects confidence in India’s ability to lead the AI economy by creating the next generation of technology leaders from India. AICTE’s Buddha Chandrasekhar said industry-academia collaboration was essential to building an industry-ready talent pipeline nationwide.“India’s transition into a global digital and AI powerhouse will depend on how effectively we prepare our students and workforce for the future of work. Industry-academia collaborations play a critical role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and real work innovation,” he said.
