AI Will Shape India’s Future: MoS Sanjay Seth at PIBM Pune’s 16th Convocation

Pune, 7th March 2026: The Pune Institute of Business Management (PIBM) held its 16th convocation ceremony at its campus on Saturday, where 704 students were awarded Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) degrees across eight specialisations. Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest and addressed the graduating students.

Speaking at the event, Seth said artificial intelligence will play a significant role in shaping India’s future and strengthening the country’s global image. He noted that as India moves towards 2047, marking 100 years of independence, the youth will be the true brand ambassadors of a developed India.

Highlighting the demographic advantage, Seth said India has more than 60 crore people under the age of 30, making the country’s young population a major strength. According to him, the energy, enthusiasm and innovation of young Indians are driving the nation’s progress, and with the current pace of development, India is on an unstoppable path of growth.

Referring to the recently held Artificial Intelligence summit in Delhi, Seth described it as a significant step in changing the perception that AI would reduce employment opportunities. Instead, he said, artificial intelligence is emerging as a major area of focus for young people and will support development in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and urban management, including traffic systems.

He emphasised that the fear of AI replacing jobs must be overcome, adding that Indian youth are as capable and talented as young people anywhere in the world. He also highlighted the growing role of start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in driving innovation and economic growth.

Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, attended the event as the Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries present included Ankit Chugh, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat LLP; Manish Jain, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Choice AMC Private Limited (Choice Mutual Fund); Dr Manohar Chaskar, Vice-Chancellor of Swami Ramanand Teerth University, Nanded; Kanwal Deep Singh, Managing Director, CEO and Board Member of Mubea India; and Kavindra Mishra, Managing Director and CEO of Shoppers Stop.

Ramanpreet Singh, Chairman of PIBM, said skill-based education plays a crucial role in creating employment opportunities and improving employability. He encouraged students to pursue careers in organisations or build their own ventures with a clear vision and sense of purpose.

He added that success requires disciplined thinking, determination and persistence even in the face of failures. According to him, when individuals remain committed to their goals with strong willpower and hard work, they not only achieve personal success but also contribute positively to society.

During the convocation ceremony, a total of 704 students received PGDM degrees in eight domains, including Business Analytics, Core HR, Core Finance, Core Marketing, HR Analytics, Finance Analytics, Marketing Analytics and Marketing Operations.