Union minister launches ‘Lakshya 2047’ Centre at PU

Vadodara: Jitendra Singh on Friday inaugurated the "Lakshya 2047" Centre for Future Skills, along with Cadaveric Centre and Advanced Medical Simulation facilities, at Parul University.Addressing the gathering, Singh, the Union minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology and earth sciences, and MoS PMO, said India is progressing rapidly in emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and deep-tech. He added that the country's youth would play a key role in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.Describing the initiative as "very futuristic", Singh stressed the need for collaboration between govt and private institutions to strengthen skill development and innovation ecosystems.The Centre for Future Skills has been developed in association with the National Skill Development Corporation and Ethnotech Academy to train students in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, automation, AR/VR, cloud computing and VLSI design.The facility includes specialised laboratories supported by companies such as NVIDIA, Cisco, Amazon Web Services and Apple to provide hands-on industry exposure.PU president Devanshu Patel said the initiative aims to create a future-ready ecosystem that combines innovation with ethics.NSDC vice-president Nitin Kapoor said the Gujarat facility is the state's first Centre for Future Skills and part of a national model currently operational across 11 institutions.He added that the initiative integrates global certifications and practical learning with academic curricula to improve employability and industry readines.