India’s government has raised fresh concerns about artificial intelligence posing a distinct challenge to its youthful population, especially in terms of jobs and economic opportunity, senior officials warned at an AI summit in New Delhi. Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran highlighted that while AI could boost productivity in ageing economies, for a rapidly growing workforce like India’s it may also displace traditional jobs that millions of young people depend on, particularly in coding and call-centre sectors that have long absorbed new graduates.
Nageswaran stressed that India needs to create around 8 million jobs per year to sustain its economic expansion — a daunting task if AI technologies begin automating roles faster than the labour market can adapt. The concern comes as AI systems become increasingly capable of performing tasks previously done by humans, prompting anxieties about future employment prospects for the country’s large cohort of working-age youth.
The warnings reflect a broader conversation at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 about balancing innovation with social stability, particularly given India’s unique demographic profile with hundreds of millions of young people entering the workforce each year. While AI offers tools to improve productivity and generate new economic opportunities, speakers emphasised that without thoughtful policy and investment in skills, the technology could exacerbate unemployment pressures.
Experts at the event also noted that the so-called period when humans and AI are most productive together may be short-lived, meaning India must accelerate its efforts in education, reskilling and job creation to ensure its youth benefit from technological change rather than being left behind.
