Mumbai, June 8 : Apna, India’s AI-native early-career talent platform, has launched India’s first AI Interview Prep Lounge at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Kaushalya Vikas Kendra in Kandivali East, Mumbai. The facility was inaugurated by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry.
“The Apna AI-enabled Interview Centre represents the future of skill development and employment generation. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence to identify opportunities, bridge skill gaps and prepare candidates for the evolving job market, this initiative will empower our youth to build successful careers and contribute meaningfully to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047,” Goyal said.
The Lounge houses three AI-powered interview preparation kiosks by apna, the first of its kind in the country. It also marks the integration of Apna’s interview preparation platform into the weekly walk-in hiring drives at ABVKVK, bringing interview preparation and job discovery into a single candidate journey.
Candidates visiting the centre can practise role-specific mock interviews, receive instant feedback on their responses, and explore relevant job opportunities. The Apna AI Jobs Prep Interview machine allows for candidates to practice for over 25000 roles across companies and it supports multiple languages and is available free of cost to all candidates visiting the centre.
Speaking about the larger vision behind the initiative, Nirmit Parikh, Founder & Group CEO, Apna, said,
“At Apna, our ambition extends beyond connecting people with jobs. We want to build the infrastructure that helps individuals succeed throughout their careers. As technology reshapes the world of work, access to guidance, preparation, and opportunity must become universal. The AI Interview Prep Lounge reflects our belief that every job seeker should have the tools and support needed to realise their potential.”
For many job seekers, especially those entering the workforce for the first time, the challenge is often not acquiring skills but navigating the interview process. Access to coaching, mentors, and structured interview preparation remains uneven, leaving many candidates to learn through trial and error. The AI Interview Prep Lounge was built to address this gap by giving candidates a place to prepare, practise, and build confidence before meeting potential employers.
Commenting on the launch, Kartik Narayan, CEO, Apna Jobs, said,
“Every year, millions of Indians invest in building skills and qualifications, yet the transition from learning to employment remains challenging. Interview readiness is often the missing link. Through the AI Interview Prep Lounge, we are giving candidates a practical way to prepare, build confidence, receive feedback, and improve their chances of converting opportunities into jobs.”
The Mumbai launch is the first step in Apna’s plans to expand the model across skilling institutions, educational campuses, and workforce development ecosystems. As technology continues to reshape the world of work, the company aims to make career preparation more accessible and help job seekers navigate an increasingly dynamic employment landscape with greater confidence.