Bengaluru: The Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL), Government of Karnataka, through the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), has announced the Kaushalya Karnataka Awards 2025.
It is a flagship recognition program celebrating excellence in skilling and workforce transformation across the state.
The awards will be presented during the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025, scheduled to take place from November 4 to 6, 2025, in Bengaluru.
Recognising Champions of Karnataka’s Skill Movement
The Kaushalya Karnataka Awards 2025 aim to honour organisations and institutions that are shaping a future-ready workforce and advancing the state’s goal of becoming India’s skill capital.
The initiative will recognise excellence among startups, MSMEs, large enterprises, ITIs, GTTCs, polytechnics, training partners, districts, and community champions that are contributing to Karnataka’s skill ecosystem.
The awards highlight innovative and inclusive practices that strengthen employability, foster industry-academia collaboration, and promote workforce competitiveness.
Two Award Streams for Inclusive Recognition
This year’s edition introduces a structured, benchmark-driven framework that focuses on innovation, inclusivity, and measurable impact across two major categories:
Corporate Excellence Awards: Recognising startups, SMEs, and large enterprises that are redefining skilling, upskilling, and workforce transformation. These awards will celebrate initiatives promoting apprenticeships, internships, inclusive skilling (for women, PwD, and underserved communities), and long-term workforce development.
Institutional Excellence Awards: Honouring the backbone of Karnataka’s skilling ecosystem — top-performing districts, ITIs, GTTCs, KGTTIs, polytechnics, training centres, and community partners. Special recognitions will also be given to trainers, principals, and trainees for exemplary contributions.
With over 20 award categories across various sectors, the program offers both national and global visibility for impactful skilling initiatives. Nominations are free and open to all eligible organisations and institutions.
Collaborative Effort to Drive Skilling Excellence
The awards will be led by the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA) under the overall stewardship of the Government of Karnataka. KSDC, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and Workplace Awards will partner to ensure a transparent and structured evaluation process.
Dr. E.V. Ramana Reddy, IAS (Retd), Chairman, Karnataka Skill Development Authority, said, “The Kaushalya Karnataka Awards represent our commitment to recognising the best in Karnataka’s skilling ecosystem. Partnering with Workplace Awards allows us to introduce structured assessments and global benchmarking, celebrating organisations that are building the state’s talent advantage.”
Manoj Kumar Meena, IAS, Secretary to Government, SDEL Department, said, “Karnataka’s digital economy thrives on a skilled and adaptable workforce. Through the Kaushalya Karnataka Awards, we aim to spotlight the collaboration between government, industry, and academia that powers this transformation. Recognising innovators and enablers in skilling not only celebrates excellence but also inspires a culture of lifelong learning essential for sustaining Karnataka’s leadership in the digital age.”
Anuj Agrawal, CEO, Zyoin Group and Chief Curator, Workplace Awards, added, “We are excited to join this landmark initiative that recognises corporate excellence in upskilling and workforce development. Being part of the Kaushalya Karnataka Awards 2025 in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka through KSDA, KSDC, and KDEM is a proud moment for us. We are elated that the Workplace Awards evaluation framework has been trusted to assess nominations, a strong validation of its credibility, transparency, and impact in recognising organisational excellence.”
Awards to be Presented at Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025
The Kaushalya Karnataka Awards 2025 will be presented during the Valedictory Session on November 6, 2025, as part of the Bengaluru Skill Summit, Karnataka’s premier platform bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, educators, and training partners to shape the future of workforce development.
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