Plenary Talk 2: Reimagining Education and Skilling for the Age of AI: Challenges & Opportunities

Manohar Swaminathan critiques India's "broken" education system, asserting AI offers a unique opportunity for fundamental redesign rather than incremental fixes. He introduces `Echaliva` (reimagined workflows) and `Shiksha` (agentic AI support) frameworks, underpinned by six pillars: pervasive AI access, learner agency in real-world problem-solving, portfolio-based assessment, micro-credentialing, lifelong learning, and faculty incentives focused on impact. The talk details how agentic AI, via tools like "lumens," can manage complex learning pathways and showcases examples from institutions implementing these transformative changes, extending to a "Pluriversity" model for large-scale skilling and enhanced employability.