Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Pragati 2026 Opens With Focus on Skills, Networking and AI
A big job fair called Alva's Pragati 2026 opened in the town of Moodbidri in India.
It is the 16th time this fair has been held.
A minister named U.T. Khader started the event.
He told young people that good school marks are not enough to find a good job.
He said they should keep learning new skills and meet people who work in the same field.
He also said smart computer tools called AI can help people work better and should not be feared.
Hundreds of companies came to the fair to look for workers.
More than thirteen thousand people visited on the first day.
The fair helps students find jobs and companies find employees.
U.T. Khader inaugurated the 16th edition of Alva's Pragati 2026, billed as one of India's largest job fairs, in Moodbidri.
Khader said academic qualifications alone no longer ensure career success and urged youth to upgrade skills and build professional networks.
He called education 'a passport' and skills 'the visa,' and said AI should be seen as a productivity tool, not a threat to jobs.
MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta praised Alva's Education Foundation for linking education with employment, and MRG Group's Dr K. Prakash Shetty was felicitated.
Organisers reported 13,247 online registrations, 326 participating companies, and 13,016 job seekers attending the first day of the two-day fair.
- Who
- Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader; Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta; organiser Alva's Education Foundation.
- What
- The 16th edition of Alva's Pragati 2026, a two-day job fair, opened with speeches urging young job seekers to focus on skills, networking and responsible AI use.
- When
- Friday, the first day of the two-day fair.
- Where
- Dr V.S. Acharya Hall, Vidyagiri, Moodbidri.
- Why
- To connect employers with a large pool of job seekers and prepare youth for a rapidly evolving job market.
- Event
- Alva's Pragati 2026 (16th edition)
- Type
- Job fair
- Venue
- Dr V.S. Acharya Hall, Vidyagiri, Moodbidri
- Duration
- Two days
- Inaugurated by
- Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader
- Online registrations
- 13,247
- Participating companies
- 326
- Day-one attendance
- 13,016 job seekers