India’s economy is at a pivotal juncture as the country braces for rapid technological change. According to V. Anantha Nageswaran, the country’s Chief Economic Advisor (CEA), India must generate at least eight million new jobs annually over the coming decade to meet its long-term development goal of a “Viksit Bharat 2047.” He emphasized that this job-creation target must be paired with a clear strategy for “AI-resilient careers” — occupations less vulnerable to automation and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
In recent addresses, CEA Nageswaran laid out the twin challenge facing India’s workforce: a demographic window of opportunity with a large young working-age population, and the imminent disruption from AI and automation that threatens to erode traditional entry-level and service jobs. He cautioned that unlike earlier decades, when global conditions were more favourable, India now faces a more complex environment. In the 1990s and 2000s, the nation benefited from export-led growth and large-scale employment generation in labour-intensive sectors. That strategy, he explained, is less viable today because many of the “easy” manufacturing gains have already been realised, while AI-enabled automation is reducing job openings in industries that once provided mass employment.
To counter this, Nageswaran argued for a stronger focus on “AI-resilient vocations” — careers that are less likely to be replaced by machines and whose value is enhanced by human capabilities. He cited examples such as elder care, counselling, plumbing, and facility maintenance, highlighting roles where human presence and emotional intelligence remain indispensable. He noted that such professions should be promoted with greater social respect and seen as important components of India’s inclusive growth strategy.
Nageswaran also underscored that job creation cannot be left solely to technology. He urged Indian industry to avoid over-reliance on automation at the expense of human labour. While acknowledging that competitiveness and productivity often require technological investment, he reminded businesses that India needs to create a minimum of eight million livelihoods every year, excluding agriculture. He warned that without this balance, economic progress could come at the cost of widening unemployment and inequality.
A central pillar of the CEA’s outlook is the expansion of manufacturing and the empowerment of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. He emphasized that no nation has achieved sustained industrial growth without a robust small and medium enterprise ecosystem. Strengthening this sector, he argued, would enhance domestic production, generate skilled employment, and integrate India more deeply into global value chains.
India’s ambitious target of eight million new jobs per year, coupled with a pivot toward AI-resilient careers and a balanced approach to technology adoption, reflects a recognition that future growth must be inclusive and employment-driven. For policymakers and business leaders alike, the message is clear: technological progress must coexist with human opportunity. To achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047, the nation must invest not only in AI but also in the skills, dignity, and adaptability of its workforce.
