In a bid to create more employment opportunities for Karnataka’s youth, Uber India has proposed a new skill development initiative that combines driving training with certified tourist-guide skills, according to a release from the office of Skill Development and Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharanprakash R. Patil.
The Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) currently trains candidates in both light and heavy vehicle driving. Now Uber has proposed the “driver-cum-tourist guide” model to further enhance the earning potential.
At a meeting with Skill Development and Medical Education Minister in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Mike Orgill, head of Public Policy, Asia Pacific at Uber, observed that equipping drivers with tourism-related skills would significantly improve income prospects, especially for marginalised communities.
“Karnataka has countless tourism destinations where a well-trained local cab driver can also serve as an effective tourist guide,” Mr. Orgill said.
Dr. Patil welcomed the suggestion, stating that integrating soft skills into driver’s training would be beneficial, and assured him that the proposal would be placed before the next board meeting. Uber agreed to submit a proposal for a pilot next year and scale the initiative with the government’s support.
MoU signed
In another meeting, Hyvision India Pvt. Ltd, a Korean-promoted firm providing camera solutions to iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State-run Government Tool Room Training Centre (GTTC) for cooperation in technical training, skilled manpower development, etc.
Published – November 25, 2025 08:52 pm IST
