India’s path to AI leadership: Building a global talent hub
India is setting its sights on becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2047, yet a significant talent gap poses a major challenge. To bridge this gap, reforms in education, strengthened industry-academic collaborations, and strategic government initiatives are essential. As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, technology is poised to be the key driver of economic growth, with AI projected to contribute $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025. However, with an installed AI workforce of just 600,000 professionals and an anticipated demand of 1.25 million by 2027, urgent action is required to develop, refine, and retain world-class AI talent.
Challenges in india’s AI talent ecosystem
Despite being home to the world’s second-highest number of engineering graduates, India lags behind the United States and China in doctoral programmes. The disparity is stark—India has only one-third of the number of PhD holders compared to the US and one-fifth compared to China. This shortage at the advanced research level has a direct impact on innovation and intellectual property creation.
Industry reports indicate that around 16% of global AI talent originates from India. However, 25-30% of Indian AI talent pursues higher education abroad, with 60-70% of them subsequently securing employment in nations such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This substantial brain drain in AI and technology sectors limits India’s ability to retain its top-tier talent.
A comparative analysis with the UK highlights key differences in AI talent development. The UK produces around 120,000-130,000 STEM graduates annually, significantly lower than India’s 1.5 million. While India emphasises large-scale technical education, the UK focuses on quality and specialisation. Additionally, India ranks 14th globally in contributions to top AI conferences, with only a 1.4% share of total research papers, indicating the need for greater global engagement.
Nevertheless, India exhibits strong grassroots innovation. The country is a leader in native GitHub AI project uploads, showcasing significant developer potential. The National Education Policy’s emphasis on coding and AI education in schools has further accelerated AI adoption among young learners.
Strategies for strengthening AI talent development
India must adopt a multi-pronged approach to upskilling the workforce through sustained industry-academia collaboration. The education system faces challenges in providing practical AI training, particularly in underserved regions, due to outdated curricula, limited exposure to fields like generative AI and AI ethics, and a lack of faculty expertise.
To overcome these barriers, corporate initiatives should support public-private-academic collaborations. Real-world learning experiences, such as internships, hackathons, and AI centres of Excellence, can enhance accessibility to hands-on AI training. Additionally, EdTech platforms and AI-powered adaptive learning can play a crucial role in democratising AI education, making quality training available to aspiring professionals in Tier 2 and 3 cities.
Higher education institutions must evolve to meet the demand for emerging AI roles such as AI product manager, AI Ethicist, and Human-AI Interaction Designer. Project-based learning, faculty upskilling, and industry engagement through professors of practice can help ensure that curricula remain relevant, fostering adaptability and innovation.
The government’s role in advancing AI education
The government has a pivotal role in cultivating high-quality AI talent. Digital learning platforms such as iGOT Karmayogi Bharat and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are reshaping AI education, making training more accessible. Initiatives such as NITI Aayog’s national AI strategy and the indiaAI mission aim to democratise AI access and establish India as a global leader in the field.
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Following the success of digital public infrastructure initiatives like UPI and Aadhaar, the government is considering the development of a public AI platform. This could provide shared resources, including compute power, high-quality datasets, AI model repositories, and frameworks for secure data sharing. Such infrastructure could empower start-ups, academic institutions, and researchers, fostering AI innovation across diverse sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.
To further enhance AI education, the government could introduce targeted grants for AI curriculum development, scholarships for AI specialisations, tax incentives for EdTech investments, and a comprehensive national AI talent mapping initiative aligned with global standards.
Conclusion
Addressing India’s AI talent gap requires coordinated efforts from academia, industry, and policymakers. By fostering inclusivity, overhauling the education system, and creating pathways for lifelong learning, India can not only meet the demand for 1.25 million AI professionals by 2027 but also set a global benchmark in AI talent development. If executed effectively, these initiatives will propel India towards its vision of becoming a world leader in AI, reinforcing its position in the global technology landscape.
