India Accounts for Nearly 16% of Global AI Talent, White Paper Positions Country as Growth Engine for Digital Economy

New Delhi, February 17: Nearly 16 percent of the world’s artificial intelligence talent originates from India, giving the country a distinct competitive edge in global AI capabilities, according to a white paper unveiled on Tuesday. The report also projects that India will contribute close to 20 percent of incremental global GDP growth over the next 15 years, underscoring its rising influence in the global digital economy.

The white paper was launched at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital, signaling a strategic shift in how artificial intelligence is positioned within India’s development narrative.

From Automation to Institutional Transformation​

Titled “AI for All: Catalysing Jobs, Growth, and Opportunity,” the white paper moves beyond concerns of automation and job displacement. Instead, it reframes AI as a tool for productivity expansion, institutional strengthening, and equitable participation in the digital economy.

The report outlines a central thesis that the next phase of AI-led growth will not be determined merely by access to technology, but by disciplined execution and large-scale institutional adoption. Drawing from pre-summit multi-sectoral consultations with policymakers and stakeholders, it presents a blueprint aimed at powering the next wave of employment, productivity gains, and inclusive growth.

The initiative was launched by Prosus in partnership with knowledge partner BCG and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Leveraging India’s Digital Public Infrastructure​

A significant focus of the white paper is India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, including Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, UPI, Account Aggregator, and ONDC. The report analyzes how these foundational systems can serve as platforms for responsible AI institutionalization and scalable deployment across emerging economies.

By embedding AI within established public digital frameworks, the paper argues that India can demonstrate a replicable model for the Global South, combining innovation with governance and accountability.

Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY and CEO of the IndiaAI Mission, said that India has already built strong digital public infrastructure and nurtured one of the largest pools of AI talent globally. He noted that the next phase of growth will focus on translating these strengths into institutional capacity and measurable outcomes.

AI Across Sectors: Agriculture, Education, Healthcare and Finance​

The white paper emphasizes that AI must be institutionalized across key sectors including agricultural markets, classrooms, clinics, factories, and financial systems. It states that when deployed responsibly, artificial intelligence can catalyze net employment while strengthening trust, governance, and long-term productivity.

Rentala Chandrashekhar, Chief Mentor of the AI for All Project and Chairman of the Centre for the Digital Future, highlighted the importance of responsible deployment to ensure that AI strengthens systems rather than disrupts them.

Sehraj Singh, Managing Director of Prosus India, said that India’s next growth phase will hinge not on access to AI, but on execution at scale. Echoing this view, Vipin V, MD and Partner at BCG, described institutionalization as the defining challenge of the coming phase, stressing that AI must be treated as a strategic capability directly linked to outcomes, economics, and long-term system performance.

Positioning India as a Model for the Global South​

By integrating AI into public institutions and economic systems, the white paper positions India as a potential template for other emerging economies seeking inclusive and sustainable growth through technology.

With a substantial share of global AI talent and a rapidly expanding digital public infrastructure, India’s strategy now turns toward disciplined execution and measurable impact, marking a decisive shift from experimentation to large-scale institutional transformation in artificial intelligence.