If infrastructure is the backbone of India’s growth story, AI-trained talent is its nervous system, placing the country at a pivotal moment in its journey to global leadership in this emerging field, asserts Sanketh Chengappa.
India is entering a transformative phase in infrastructure development. From smart cities to sustainable transport, renewable energy grids, high-speed rail corridors, digital highways, and modern urban utilities, the scale and complexity of these projects demand more than conventional engineering. They also require intelligent, adaptive, and data-driven solutions that can keep pace with rapid technological and environmental shifts. And artificial intelligence (AI) is at the core of this transformation.
India’s talent pool is powering the country’s digital revolution. The country is adding one global capability centre (GCC) every week, reinforcing its status as a preferred destination for global research and development. However, sustaining this growth will require continuous investment in education and skill development. The Government of India is addressing this challenge by revamping university curricula to include AI, 5G, and semiconductor design, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This ensures that graduates acquire job-ready skills, reducing the transition time between education and employment.
No longer a futuristic concept, AI is now a key enabler of operational efficiency, safety, sustainability, and innovation. It powers predictive maintenance, real-time analytics, intelligent scheduling, and advanced resource optimisation. This fundamentally determines how infrastructure is planned, built, and managed. However, to unlock its full potential, the country must cultivate a generation of professionals who are not only technically proficient but also AI-fluent, agile in adopting emerging tools, and comfortable working in multi-disciplinary digital environments.
Strategic Skilling
Recognising the strategic importance of AI, the government has launched several forward-looking initiatives, such as the India AI Mission and Future Skills Prime, to build AI capabilities across various sectors. Together, these initiatives are laying the foundation for a future-ready digital ecosystem that integrates infrastructure growth with technological leadership. However, challenges remain: a significant shortage of skilled professionals, limited access to training in rural and semi-urban regions, and persistent gender disparities in AI-related roles.
Industry analysts project that India’s AI services sector could reach a valuation of approximately $17 billion by 2027. With an AI adoption rate of 92 per cent among knowledge workers, far exceeding the global average of
75 per cent, India’s potential to lead in AI-driven infrastructure is both evident and promising. For infrastructure players specifically, the opportunity is to leverage AI not just as a back-end function but as a frontline enabler of smarter mobility networks, resilient energy systems, and sustainable city planning. Recent data suggests that AI integration in infrastructure projects can reduce project delays by about 35 per cent, cut operational costs by nearly 20 per cent, and improve safety compliance by around 40 per cent.
Despite the advantage, a recent study highlights a looming shortfall of over 1 million AI professionals by 2027, emphasising the urgency of comprehensive reskilling and upskilling efforts. Currently, only 15-20 per cent of the talent base possesses AI-related competencies, and infrastructure limitations continue to hinder equitable access to training. This gap is particularly pronounced in Tier-2 and -3 cities, where talent is abundant but structured AI skilling pathways are limited. Without targeted interventions, India risks creating a two-speed workforce: one group deeply integrated into global AI ecosystems and another left behind. Industry-wide estimates show that demand for AI-related roles in infrastructure will outpace supply by
52 per cent over the next two to three years.
Policy Progress, Execution Gaps
The government has responded with ambitious programmes. The India AI Mission, approved in March 2024 with a budget of approximately `103 billion, aims to enhance computing infrastructure, support AI startups, and integrate AI applications across sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. The expansion of the Digital India Programme, approved in 2023, allocated close to
`149.03 billion between FY2021-22 and FY2025-26, including the addition of nine new supercomputers under the National Supercomputer Mission and the establishment of three AI Centres of Excellence focused on sustainable cities, agriculture, and health.
Complementing these initiatives are the National Strategy for AI, the INDIA ai portal, dedicated Centres of Excellence, and the
Future Skills Prime initiative, a joint programme by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the industry body National Association of Software and Service Companies (NSSCOM) designed to train professionals and students in AI and other emerging technologies.
While these schemes are promising, the pace of policy execution and industry adoption must accelerate to match the scale of India’s infrastructure ambitions. The country is investing trillions of rupees into green energy corridors, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and next-generation transport systems. Still, these projects will only achieve their full potential if supported by AI-skilled professionals at every stage of execution. Currently, fewer than 38 per cent of employees in core infrastructure functions report having access to any AI-related training.
Building Inclusion
Alongside other challenges, gender disparity also remains a concern. Women represent only around 15 per cent of India’s tech workforce, with even fewer in AI roles. Barriers such as rigid training schedules, lack of childcare, and limited mobility restrict participation. Women returning from career breaks also face the onerous challenge of catching up with new developments, compounded by a lack of tailored upskilling programmes. Closing this gap is not merely a question of equity; it is an economic imperative. A study by the global management consultancy McKinsey estimates that advancing gender equality could add
$770 billion to India’s GDP by 2025. Needless to say, expanding women’s participation in AI-driven infrastructure roles would directly contribute to this growth.
To build an inclusive, future-ready AI talent ecosystem for infrastructure, India must integrate AI education across science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and vocational streams while also embedding digital fluency in non-technical disciplines such as project management and environmental planning. Stronger collaboration between government, academia, and industry is needed to ensure that training aligns with market needs rather than operating in silos. AI skilling must be delivered in regional languages and mobile-first formats so that learners across diverse geographies have equal access. Equally important is the promotion of flexible learning models that support women with caregiving responsibilities, backed by enabling infrastructure such as crèche facilities, safe transport options, and mentorship networks. Highlighting successful women in AI can also inspire greater participation.
At the same time, mid-career professionals in construction, energy, and transport need structured reskilling programs so they are not displaced by younger, AI-fluent graduates. Sustainability modules should also be incorporated into AI training programmes
so professionals understand how to
balance efficiency with environmental responsibility. Industry-specific certifications and micro-credentialing systems can make continuous learning less daunting by allowing professionals to upgrade their skills in smaller, practical increments rather than year-long commitments.
Future Present
If infrastructure is the backbone of India’s growth story, AI-trained talent will be its nervous system, enabling smarter decisions, faster execution, and more sustainable outcomes. By 2030, infrastructure projects infused with AI could generate an estimated 38 million new jobs in India, many of which will require hybrid skill sets that combine engineering expertise with digital fluency.
India, thus, stands at a pivotal moment in its journey to becoming a global AI leader. The potential is immense, but so is the challenge. By bridging the talent gap through coordinated efforts across government, private sectors, civil society, and educational institutions, India can empower its infrastructure workforce to drive innovation, resilience, and global competitiveness in the dawning AI era.
As AI adoption accelerates across industries, India’s proactive stance is strengthening its digital economy, reinforcing its geopolitical relevance, and paving the way for long-term self-reliance in critical technologies. The success of this transformation will depend on creating not just AI-literate engineers but a culture of adaptability, lifelong learning, and inclusive growth. India must act with urgency to embed AI skills across every layer of infrastructure talent if it is to lead not only in building projects but in shaping the next era of global development.
About the author:
Sanketh Chengappa, Director and Business Head for Professional Staffing, Adecco India
Infrastructure Impact: Smarter, Faster, Safer
35% fewer project delays with AI integration
20% reduction in operational costs through predictive analytics
40% improvement in safety compliance via intelligent monitoring
Real-time scheduling & resource optimisation across transport and energy systems
Balances efficiency with environmental responsibility.
Skilling Landscape: Bridging the Talent Gap
1Million+ AI professionals shortfall projected by 2027
Only 15-20% of talent base currently AI-competent
92% AI adoption rate among knowledge workers
(global average: 75%)
Tier-2 & -3 cities face limited structured AI pathways
Mid-career reskilling critical to prevent displacement by AI-fluent graduates
Source: Adecco India
Policy & Inclusion: Future-Ready, Inclusive Growth
India AI Mission (`103 Billion) boosting infrastructure, startups, and sectoral AI adoption
Digital India expansion (`149.03 Billion) adding supercomputers and AI Centres of Excellence
Future Skills Prime (MeitY-NASSCOM) training professionals in emerging technologies
Women are only 15% of tech workforce, fewer in AI roles
Inclusive pathways include regional language training, mobile-first formats, flexible learning models
Source: Adecco India