Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday, June 6, 2026, spotlighted an artificial-intelligence-powered interview preparation initiative by job platform APNA at the Kandivali Skill Centre in Mumbai, calling it a 'remarkable use of technology to empower India's workforce.'

Context

Goyal highlighted APNA's AI Interview Preparation Station, describing it as a 'first-of-its-kind initiative' that allows young job seekers to simulate interviews, receive real-time feedback, and practise in Hindi, English, or Hinglish. The multilingual capability is central to its pitch: it lowers the barrier for entry-level candidates who may not be comfortable in a single formal language. The tool is currently available at the Kandivali Skill Centre in Mumbai.

APNA is an India-focused hiring platform built around the informal and entry-level workforce, using mobile-first tools to connect job seekers with employers. Its pivot toward AI-assisted skilling places it within a growing ecosystem of private platforms augmenting government-run vocational infrastructure.

Policy Backdrop

The initiative sits squarely within the arc of the Skill India Mission, launched in 2015 with a target of training over 400 million people and subsequently extended with a sharper focus on digital and AI-enabled delivery. The government's National Strategy for AI, released in 2018 under the '#AIforAll' framework, explicitly promoted accessible AI applications in social sectors including employment and skilling.

Central government policy has increasingly encouraged public-private collaboration to deploy AI tools that address India's linguistic diversity and geographic access gaps in job readiness. The Kandivali centre is among the facilities that blend state-supported infrastructure with private-sector technology delivery.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are young, entry-level job seekers — a demographic that often lacks access to formal coaching or mock-interview facilities. The Hinglish option in particular signals a design choice aimed at first-generation urban job seekers who navigate between languages in daily life.

For APNA, ministerial visibility translates into reputational endorsement at a time when edtech and skilling platforms are competing for government partnerships and public trust. Skill centres across Maharashtra and other states could become natural expansion points if the model gains formal policy backing.

What's Next

The immediate question is whether the AI Interview Preparation Station will be rolled out to additional skill centres beyond Kandivali, and whether it will be formally linked with national infrastructure such as the National Career Service portal or state employment exchanges. Minister Goyal's public endorsement raises the possibility of a wider integration into the Skill India delivery chain, though no formal announcement has been made. The broader pattern of AI adoption in skilling suggests such tools will become a standard feature of government-affiliated centres rather than a novelty.