India, Feb 19 : The India AI Impact Summit 2026, launched on February 16, has spotlighted the pivotal role of India’s youth in driving the nation’s artificial intelligence (AI) journey, according to a statement released on Thursday.
With over 65% of its population under 35, India’s demographic profile positions its young talent as a powerful engine for economic growth and technological innovation. The summit emphasizes transitioning youth from passive learning to active participation, aligning education with industry needs, and preparing students for AI centric careers.
Young innovators are at the heart of the summit through platforms such as startup pitches, innovation challenges, and live solution demonstrations, connecting emerging skills with market opportunities. These initiatives aim to channel youth potential into productive capacity and accelerate job creation in sectors like Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Digital Content projected to generate nearly 2 million roles by 2030.
AI is rapidly reshaping India’s employment landscape, opening avenues for skill-intensive and future-ready work while enhancing productivity and promoting inclusive growth. Between January 2023 and March 2025, AI-related job postings in South Asia rose from 2.9% to 6.5% of total vacancies, with AI skills demand growing 75% faster than non-AI roles.
The Union Budget 2026–27 reinforces this focus on AI talent and employment. It supports the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, to set up AI-aligned Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges, projected to create around 20 lakh jobs for students, creators, and young professionals. The budget also proposes an Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee to assess AI’s impact on skills and jobs, bridging the gap between learning and industry requirements.
Through affordable AI infrastructure, policy backing under the IndiaAI Mission, and regional access to computing and data resources, India is democratising AI opportunities beyond metropolitan hubs, ensuring that its youth remain central to the country’s technological and economic transformation.