Ai Desk July 15, 2026 at 02:54 AM 2 min readaiNews Insights
Nasscom Report Reveals Over 90 Percent Of Early-Career Professionals Are AI-Proficient
[Talent Landscape]:
A recent Nasscom report highlights that India is rapidly becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence talent, with over 90% of early-career technology professionals now classified as AI-native or AI-proficient. The study, which surveyed over 1,700 students and professionals, found that 70% are proficient, while 23% are considered AI-native.
[Educational Initiatives]:
To further bolster this momentum, Google DeepMind is introducing its AI Research Foundations curriculum to India. This free 56-hour program aims to provide students and builders with advanced technical skills. Additionally, Google has launched ATL Saathi, a Gemini-powered assistant, which is currently being rolled out to 100 schools with a target of reaching 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs.
[Strategic Shift]:
Despite these gains, Nasscom warns that maintaining this competitive edge requires a fundamental redesign of current hiring practices and workplace learning. Academia and industry must collaborate to enhance engineering judgment and technical depth, ensuring that the workforce can move beyond basic proficiency to solve complex, real-world problems effectively.
Pulse Intelligence
Context & ImpactContext & Background
- India has seen a surge in demand for AI-skilled labor across the IT services and startup sectors.
- Atal Tinkering Labs were established to foster innovation and technical curiosity among school-aged students.
- Global tech giants have increasingly focused on India as a primary source for AI research and development talent.
Key Consequences
- Educational institutions will likely integrate more AI-focused curricula to meet industry demand for advanced skills.
- Companies may shift hiring criteria to prioritize AI-native candidates over traditional software engineering roles.
- The expansion of ATL Saathi will increase AI literacy among thousands of students across the country.
Market & Economic Impact
Not applicable.

