Salesforce will equip one million learners in India with AI skills by 2030, a target that coincides with the 10th anniversary of the company's Centre of Excellence in the country.
The initiative will use its Trailhead online learning platform and a range of programmes involving academic institutions, government bodies and industry partners. It is intended to reach learners across the country through training, internships and links to employers in the Salesforce ecosystem.
India is a significant market for technology companies seeking both engineering talent and new users of digital tools. The commitment also highlights the growing focus among large software groups on workforce training as businesses and public institutions adapt to the spread of AI systems.
Salesforce's work in India includes government-backed AI skilling programmes with bodies such as IndiaAI and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. These schemes are aimed at emerging talent and designed to prepare students and early-career learners for work involving AI and digital systems.
A separate virtual internship programme with the All India Council for Technical Education is intended to give students project experience alongside training in Salesforce and AI-related tools. According to Salesforce, it is meant to reach students in both large cities and smaller towns.
The company also highlighted academic Centres of Excellence created with institutions including Manipal Academy of Higher Education. These arrangements are intended to widen access to Salesforce and AI training through practical learning modules.
Another part of the programme relies on Salesforce's partner network in India. Accenture, Deloitte, Grant Thornton Bharat, Infosys, PwC and TCS are helping deliver structured training, mentorship and project exposure that can support routes into employment.
India focus
The announcement comes as companies across India increase investment in AI training, cloud computing and data skills. Employers have increasingly said they face a shortage of workers with experience in these areas, even as demand rises in sectors including financial services, retail, manufacturing and public administration.
For Salesforce, the move also underscores the role of its India operations beyond software development and support. The Centre of Excellence has become part of the company's broader effort to build products, train talent and deepen ties with universities, agencies and service partners in one of the world's largest technology labour markets.
Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO of Salesforce South Asia, linked the skilling plan to the company's decade-long presence in the country.
"India has earned its place at the center of the global technology story - not by following trends, but by shaping them. As we mark ten years of our Centre of Excellence, I am reminded that our greatest achievements have been the people we have empowered along the way. Our commitment to skill 1 million learners by 2030 reflects a firm belief that India's workforce is not just ready for the AI economy - it is ready to lead it. At Salesforce, we are committed to ensuring that potential does not go unrealised, and that the next generation of technology leaders emerges from right here," Bhattacharya said.
Training push
The initiative reflects a broader effort in India to align formal education more closely with industry needs. Policymakers, universities and technology groups have expanded programmes that combine curriculum changes, faculty training and internships in an attempt to make graduates more employable in software, cloud and AI roles.
Salesforce's collaboration with AICTE includes curriculum integration, faculty support and virtual internships. The aim is to help students gain exposure to workplace tasks and current digital tools while they are still in education.
Buddha Chandrasekhar, Chief Coordinating Officer at AICTE, Ministry of Education, outlined that rationale in comments accompanying the announcement.
"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-world innovation. Our partnership with Salesforce reflects a shared commitment to building an industry-ready talent pipeline equipped with digital, cloud, data, and AI capabilities. Initiatives such as curriculum integration, faculty enablement, and virtual internships are helping create meaningful pathways for students to participate in India's rapidly evolving technology economy," Chandrasekhar said.
The scale of the target means delivery will depend on sustained participation from universities, training providers, employers and government-backed programmes over several years. Salesforce said the effort will be channelled through a mix of institutional partnerships, internship schemes and partner-led training tied to jobs in its wider ecosystem.