The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will grace a special programme under SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness, an initiative of the Skill India Mission, on 1 January 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 am and underscores the government’s focus on preparing India’s workforce for an artificial intelligence-driven future. Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the programme reflects the continued commitment of the Government of India towards building future-ready skills across sectors. The event will be held in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, and Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education. During the programme, the President will confer artificial intelligence certificates on learners, including students and Members of Parliament. She will also launch the national awareness campaign, #SkillTheNation Challenge, aimed at encouraging greater youth participation in skilling initiatives aligned with emerging technologies. As part of the agenda, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will conduct a special “AI for Beginners” session at Rashtrapati Bhavan, delivered as a short interactive learning module by a globally renowned AI expert in collaboration with Google. The President will also virtually inaugurate the IGNOU Regional Centre at Rairangpur, which is expected to serve as a key hub for northern Odisha by strengthening employability through skill-oriented programmes and training support. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the nature of work and skill requirements across industries. The Ministry has placed strong emphasis on AI skilling with a focus on accessibility, relevance and inclusion. Through initiatives such as SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness, it aims to equip learners with essential AI competencies aligned with evolving industry needs and national development priorities.