India Set to Achieve Major Milestone in AI by 2027: 10 Million People to Work in AI by 2030

India is rapidly advancing in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to the Stanford AI Index Report 2025, India currently ranks third globally in AI development. By 2027, India is expected to achieve another significant milestone, with its AI talent pool set to double in size.

India’s Growing AI Strength
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, informed the Rajya Sabha that India is among the top countries globally in AI skills. Citing the Stanford AI Index Report 2025, he noted that India leads the world in attracting AI talent. AI-related job opportunities in India have been growing at a rate of approximately 33% per year, and the number of AI professionals in the country has tripled since 2016. The government believes that AI will strengthen India’s economy and benefit multiple sectors.

Government Planning for AI Expansion
Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that as AI adoption grows across different sectors, there will be an increasing demand for skilled professionals. The government is strategically planning its AI initiatives to address this need. International reports have also recognized the growing strength of India’s AI workforce.

Doubling the AI Talent Pool by 2027
It is projected that India’s AI talent base will more than double by 2027, with an annual growth rate of around 15%. The rising number of AI experts is evident globally: in 2024, India contributed 19.9% of AI projects on GitHub, making it the second-largest contributor worldwide. This demonstrates the robust capabilities of Indian AI developers.

The IndiaAI Mission
The IndiaAI mission reflects the government’s focus on AI skills, research, and innovation. Under this initiative, support is being provided to 500 PhD scholars, 5,000 postgraduates, and 8,000 graduate students for AI-related work. Additionally, 27 IndiaAI Data and AI Labs have been established in smaller cities to provide hands-on courses, with 174 ITIs and polytechnics also hosting AI labs. The goal is to ensure opportunities for youth across urban and rural areas.

Training 10 Million People by 2030
In collaboration with NASSCOM, the government is providing training in AI, Big Data, and Cloud Computing, aligned with national skill standards. The platform currently offers over 500 courses, with more than 1.6 million enrollments so far. A free national course, “Youth AI for All”, provides basic AI knowledge to everyone. According to NASSCOM, India now has the largest digital-skilled talent pool globally. By 2030, India aims to prepare 80–100 million people for AI-related jobs, making the country a global leader in AI workforce development.