PRESIDENT OF INDIA LAUNCHES #SKILLTHENATION AI CHALLENGE AND VIRTUALLY INAUGURATES IGNOU REGIONAL CENTRE AND SKILL CENTRE AT RAIRANGPUR, ODISHA

• On 1 January 2026, President Droupadi Murmu launched the #SkilltheNation Challenge under the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.
• She simultaneously virtually inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Centre and Skill Centre at Rairangpur, Odisha — her home region.
• Intersects three UPSC themes: AI policy & skilling (GS-III), higher/distance education access (GS-II), and tribal/rural empowerment.