A MeitY report reveals India’s AI sector will require over 1 million professionals by next year, with government initiatives expanding AI education and technical training across the country.
As India accelerates its digital transformation, the demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) professionals is projected to surpass 1 million by 2026, according to a new report by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Titled “India’s AI Revolution: A Roadmap to Viksit Bharat,” the report outlines the government’s multi-pronged approach to preparing the country’s workforce for the AI-driven future.
Under the IndiaAI Future Skills initiative, AI-focused programs are being introduced across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. Fellowships are also being offered to PhD scholars at top-ranking institutions (as per NIRF rankings), further fueling AI research and innovation. In an effort to make AI education more accessible, state-of-the-art Data and AI Labs are being set up in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with the first model IndiaAI Data Lab already operational at NIELIT Delhi.
In tandem, the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has approved a major expansion in BTech seats for the 2024–25 academic year—reaching 14.9 lakh, up nearly 16% over the past four years. The surge is driven by skyrocketing interest in high-demand specializations such as Computer Science, AI/ML, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Blockchain.
To meet the needs of an evolving job market, universities are revamping their curricula to integrate AI, 5G, and semiconductor technologies in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “This ensures that graduates acquire job-ready skills, reducing the transition time between education and employment,” the report notes.
In a further boost to inclusive learning, IIT Madras has launched five free online AI courses on the government’s SWAYAM Plus platform. These courses are designed to democratize AI education, making it accessible to learners from all academic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
As the country marches toward its vision of a technologically empowered “Viksit Bharat,” these initiatives mark a significant step in bridging the talent gap and positioning India as a global AI powerhouse.
