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India to Require 1 Million AI Professionals by 2026 Amid Tech Education Overhaul: Government Report
NEW DELHI: India is set to witness a massive surge in demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent, with an estimated one million professionals needed by 2026, according to a new report released by the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT. Titled India’s AI Revolution: A Roadmap to Viksit Bharat, the report outlines the critical role of AI in transforming the country’s economy and workforce.
As India aims to become a $23–35 trillion economy by 2047, its higher education system—especially in engineering—is undergoing a fundamental shift to align with the demands of a rapidly evolving job market shaped by AI, automation, and interdisciplinary innovation.
At the center of this transition is engineering education. The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) reports a sharp rise in B.Tech seats for the 2024–25 academic year, reaching 14.9 lakh—a 16% increase over four years. Much of this growth comes from a 50% spike in admissions to Computer Science and allied fields such as AI/ML, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Blockchain, reflecting strong industry demand.
India’s tech education landscape is increasingly embracing interdisciplinary, industry-linked learning to cultivate engineers who are not only technically proficient but also capable of driving innovation. A growing shift from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to STEAM—adding Arts into the mix—signals the integration of design thinking, psychology, communication, law, and business into core technical education.
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) recently launched the Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII), a new academic venture focused on AI. “By embracing AI, we’re not just keeping pace with global trends but empowering our students to become responsible innovators and problem-solvers,” said Amruta Yeravdekar Ruikar, Head of International Admissions & Promotions. She added that the curriculum blends theoretical foundations with real-world applications from the outset, a model already in use at the Symbiosis Dubai campus through AI-integrated B.Tech and BCA programs.
The India Skills Report 2024 by Wheebox projects India’s AI industry will reach $28.8 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 45%. The report also notes a 14-fold increase in the AI-skilled workforce from 2016 to 2023, placing India among the world’s top five fastest-growing AI talent hubs, alongside Singapore, Finland, Ireland, and Canada.
Commenting on this rapid shift, Dr. Kathiravan Kannan, Director at SRM Group of Institutions, said, “The demand for AI professionals is driven by rapid technological advances. At SRM, we offer interdisciplinary programs such as Medical Engineering, ECE with Data Science, and AI-ML Embedded Systems. Our academic-industry partnerships ensure students gain global competitiveness and practical exposure.”
This transformation is becoming a nationwide trend. Institutions across India are embedding research-led curricula, industry mentorship, and international experiences into their programs. Emerging focus areas include Extended Reality (XR), ethical AI, data visualization, and digital manufacturing—now considered core to contemporary tech education.
“We are building an innovation ecosystem around AI,” said Dr. Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor of Mahindra University. “Through internships, global immersion, and research, we aim to blend rigorous academics with real-world application. Our multidisciplinary model equips students with technical knowledge and cultivates adaptability, ethics, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking.”
As AI continues to redefine productivity and innovation, India’s educational institutions are racing to create a future-ready workforce capable of driving the country’s technological ambitions forward.
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