NITI Aayog projects 4 million new AI-driven jobs in India by 2029

NITI Aayog’s “Roadmap for Job Creation in the AI Economy,” led by CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam and developed with top industry leaders, warns India could lose millions of tech and CX jobs by 2031 without urgent reforms in policy, education, and AI skilling

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the global workforce, India faces a dual challenge: the risk of large-scale job losses and the potential to become a global hub for AI talent. In a new report released on Friday (October 10), NITI Aayog, India’s premier policy think tank, outlined a roadmap aimed at mitigating AI-induced job disruptions while unlocking up to 4 million new employment opportunities in the next five years.

AI: Threat or opportunity?

Titled “Roadmap for Job Creation in the AI Economy,” the report was authored by NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam and developed with input from leaders across major firms such as IBM, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, LTIMindtree, Teleperformance, BCG, and Nasscom. It warns that if India continues on a “business-as-usual” path, job losses in the tech services and customer experience sectors could be significant. Projections suggest a decline in tech services headcount from around 8 million in 2023 to 6 million by 2031, while customer experience roles may drop to 1.8 million.

However, the report presents a counter-narrative: with the right interventions, AI could be a catalyst for job creation, innovation, and economic growth. NITI Aayog recommends the launch of a National AI Talent Mission—a coordinated national effort to train and reskill India’s workforce, positioning the country as the world’s leading supplier of AI-ready talent.

Urgency for policy and education reform

The report highlights three critical gaps exacerbating the AI risk: high displacement vulnerability, weak computer science education, and a shortage of AI-skilled professionals. Subrahmanyam stressed that India must urgently adapt its policy frameworks, education systems, and training cycles to match the pace of AI development.

“India’s strength lies in its people,” he said. “With over 9 million tech and CX professionals and the world’s largest pool of young digital talent, we have scale and ambition—what we need now is urgency and coordination.”

The roadmap proposes embedding AI literacy across all levels of education, improving access to open data and computing infrastructure, and creating an India Open-Source AI Commons to foster inclusive innovation.