New Delhi: AI is poised to upend the global workforce, and India is at a precarious crossroads. With its vast youth population, many have long celebrated India’s demographic dividend as an economic strength. But what if this very advantage turns into a liability? As artificial intelligence takes over roles across sectors—from finance and healthcare to manufacturing and customer service—India risks facing one of the worst waves of job displacement in history. This is not a doomsday opinion, but rather a critical look at worse scenarios so that we can build a moat to face it.

Unlike past industrial revolutions, which created new forms of employment even as they rendered some jobs obsolete, AI-driven automation does not necessarily follow the same pattern. Machines are not just replacing repetitive tasks; they are increasingly performing cognitive roles that were once the exclusive domain of human workers. And unlike previous technological shifts, this transition is happening at a breakneck pace. The Economic Survey of India 2023-24 has already sounded the alarm, warning that AI could displace millions of jobs across industries, casting a “pall of uncertainty” over the labour market. The question is no longer if AI will reshape employment—it already is. The real question is: Is India prepared for the impact?

Recent reports suggest that AI could transform or eliminate up to 38 million jobs in India by 2030. This isn’t just a theoretical risk—it is already........

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