Nikhil Barshikar, Founder & CEO of Imarticus Learning and Chairman of the Advisory Council at Imarticus School of Finance & Business

“The Union Budget 2026–27 marks a shift from reactive skilling to proactive human capital development through the new ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ (E2E) framework.

A key feature is the institutionalisation of a ‘Corporate Mitra’ cadre—accredited para-professionals trained via short-term, modular courses designed by premier bodies like ICAI, ICSI, and ICMAI. By deploying these specialists in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the government addresses the ‘compliance-capability gap’ that often limits MSME growth.

This initiative is not just an educational reform; it is a strategic economic move. By linking equity support through the ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund with targeted professional guidance, it ensures the workforce remains resilient to AI-driven disruptions while positioning India to capture 10% of the global services market by 2047.”