India's AI professional demand to hit 1M by 2026
Source: livemint.com
India's need for AI professionals is projected to reach one million by 2026, according to a report by the Union Ministry of Electronics & IT.
As India aims to become a USD 23-USD 35 trillion economy by 2047, higher education is changing to meet the demands of the job market, which is being shaped by AI, automation, and interdisciplinary innovation. Engineering education is central to this shift.
The number of approved B. Tech seats for the 2024-25 academic year has increased to 14.9 lakh, a nearly 16% increase over four years, according to the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). This is driven by a more than 50% rise in seats for Computer Science and related fields like AI/ML, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Blockchain.
India's tech education sector is incorporating interdisciplinary and industry-integrated learning to develop engineers who can code, create, collaborate, and lead innovation. The shift from STEM to STEAM, which adds Arts, is gaining traction, combining technical knowledge with design thinking, communication, psychology, law, and business.
Symbiosis International Launches AI Institute
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) has launched the Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII). The institute will integrate AI into academic programs and research.
According to Amruta Yeravdekar Ruikar, Head of International Admissions & Promotions, Symbiosis International University, Symbiosis' curriculum combines theoretical foundations with real-world applications. B. Tech and BCA programs integrate AI in specializations at the Symbiosis Dubai campus.
India's AI Industry Growth
The India Skills Report 2024 by Wheebox projects that India's AI industry will reach USD 28.8 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 45%. The report notes a 14-fold increase in the AI-skilled workforce from 2016 to 2023, placing India among the top five fastest-growing AI talent hubs.
According to Dr. Kathiravan Kannan, Director, SRM Group of Institutions, the demand for AI professionals is driven by technological progress. SRM Institute of Science and Technology offers interdisciplinary programs to bridge emerging domains.
Institutions are incorporating research-driven curricula, industry mentorship, and global exposure into their programs. New areas like Extended Reality (XR), ethical AI, data visualization, and digital manufacturing are becoming important in tech education.
According to Dr Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University, there is a need to foster an AI-driven innovation ecosystem by providing experiential learning opportunities. Mahindra University integrates foundational knowledge with real-world applications to cultivate problem-solving abilities, adaptability, ethics, and emotional intelligence.