India will host The Global AI Summit in New Delhi in February 2026. Niti Ayog has released a report AI for Viksit Bharat drafted by McKinsey & Co. It spells out how AI could potentially reduce the gap between GDP today and the aspirational GDP under Viksit Bharat. Mainly, there could be automation of routine tasks and smarter decision making. AI could drive innovation, particularly in manufacturing, financial services, pharma and automotive. AI has the potential to boost GDP by $ 500-600 billion through productivity improvements for manufacturing and banking. Another increase of $280-475 billion can come through AI-driven R&D in pharma and auto.
Nasscom and BCG have drafted another report which examines AI’s impact on the tech sector. There would be job losses but there would also be new job opportunities. IT and BPO jobs are subject to automation. AI in education from schools onwards will create opportunities for talents, domestically and abroad. There could be reskilling programmes and building of infrastructure.
Deloitte has drafted another report AI for Inclusive Societal Development. India’s informal workers contribute (who constitute 90 per cent of workforce) neraly nearly half the GDP. This informal workforce should be transformed.
There should be collaboration between policy makers, academia and industry. AI should be used as a transformative power.
Apart from the four sectors pointed out in the first report drafted by Niti Ayog, there should be focus on real estate and professional services, other than banking. There are areas such as infra construction, textiles, hospitality, tourism and agriculture. AI must be integrated to these areas. AI can be helpful in food processing, logistics and storage.
The displacements in real world workforce must be mapped. AI’s impact on white collar jobs must be considered, apart from tech level and BPO jobs. Jobs lost cannot always be secured in the same sector. AI must access MSMEs without causing attrition. MSMEs contribute 60 per cent to India’s employment.
Rural India must be given enough attention.AI-related transformation must trickle down to the rural sectors.
The Summit must demonstrate how cutting-edge technology can be harnessed for inclusive growth.
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