Topics In Demand
Notification
New

No notification found.

Skills‑First Approach: India’s Rise as a Tech Talent Nation
Skills‑First Approach: India’s Rise as a Tech Talent Nation

7

0

India’s vast pool of STEM graduates and thriving startup ecosystem have positioned it as a global tech talent hub. Companies are increasingly adopting a “skills‑first” mindset - valuing demonstrable AI competencies over pedigree alone. For seasoned professionals, this shift underscores the importance of upskilling: by acquiring AI fluency, they can compete on merit, bridge organizational skill gaps, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.

AI’s reach extends far beyond core data science. From healthcare and finance to manufacturing and retail, organizations are deploying machine learning to personalize customer experiences, optimize supply chains, and detect anomalies. This expansion creates fresh roles in research, consulting, implementation, and governance - each demanding a blend of domain knowledge and technical acumen. Industry veterans who upskill can tap into these cross‑sector opportunities, while early‑career professionals can specialize in areas aligned with their passions.

AI Workplaces: From Automation to Augmentation

Automation often triggers fears of job displacement, yet AI’s true promise lies in augmenting human capabilities. Intelligent assistants can handle repetitive tasks—data cleansing, report generation, or basic customer queries—freeing professionals to focus on strategy, creativity, and relationship building. Upskilling enables workers to collaborate with AI tools effectively: designing workflows, interpreting model outputs, and making data‑driven decisions that machines alone cannot.

Structured AI Learning: Why MOOCs and University Programs Matter

AI is too vast and fast‑moving to master through ad‑hoc web browsing. MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) on platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udacity offer sequenced modules, hands‑on labs, peer discussions, and graded assessments—essential ingredients for deep learning. In parallel, leading Indian universities now provide certificate and diploma programs in AI and machine learning, often co‑developed with industry partners. These structured paths ensure that learners build solid foundations in statistics, programming, and model deployment.

AI Career Families: Beyond Data Science - Not everyone needs to be a data scientist. The AI ecosystem includes roles such as:

  • Data Engineer: Builds scalable pipelines and ETL processes.
  • Machine‑Learning Engineer: Integrates and optimizes models for production.
  • ML Ops Specialist: Automates deployment, monitoring, and version control.
  • AI/ML Tester: Validates accuracy, fairness, and robustness through test suites.
  • Prompt Engineer: Crafts inputs that guide large language models effectively.
  • AI Product Manager: Defines roadmaps, aligns solutions with business goals.
  • AI Ethicist: Ensures responsible, transparent, and compliant AI practices.

Mapping your strengths to these families helps target your learning and career planning.

From Theory to Practice: Hands‑On AI Projects & Capstone Portfolios - Theory alone won’t cut it. Build confidence and credibility by developing small applications—image classifiers, recommendation engines, or chatbots. Contribute to open‑source projects, participate in Kaggle competitions, or collaborate on internal pilots. A portfolio of real‑world projects not only cements your understanding but also signals to employers that you can deliver tangible AI solutions.

In the AI age, letting go of outdated habits is as vital as acquiring new ones. Whether moving from manual feature engineering to automated feature stores, or adopting CI/CD pipelines for model management, professionals must challenge entrenched workflows. Cultivating a mindset of “unlearning” encourages experimentation, adaptability, and resilience—qualities that distinguish AI‑ready talent.

 

 

Author About the Author

Dhiraj Anand is the Head of Retail Digital X and RB Operations India at NatWest Group, where he leads a team of over 4,600 professionals, delivering digital technology and operational prowess for our 19 million Retail customers. He is also the Global Domain Lead for Physical Channels, championing innovation and efficiency across all our physical touchpoints, including cash, ATMs, branches, telephony, and video banking, to ensure a seamless and exceptional customer service. With an 18-year career at the Bank, Dhiraj has done roles such as Head of Credit & Asset-Backed Products Technology, Head of Financial Engineering Group India, and Global Head of Murex Platform-Trading Tech. A distinguished Financial & Professional Risk Manager (FRM & PRM) Charter holder from GARP & PRMIA, Dhiraj holds a Masters in Computer Applications and a Bachelors (Honours) in Commerce and Economics. Dhiraj is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actively contributes to the India Inclusion Council at NatWest. As the former sponsor of LGBT+ Innovative workstream, his leadership drove impactful initiatives to foster a supportive and inclusive workplace for LGBT+ talent and led to NatWest Group India being recognized as a ‘Gold Employer’ at the India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI) 2023. He is also the India sponsor for Beyond, working across teams, to embed a high-performance culture. Based in Delhi, Dhiraj balances his professional life with personal interests in reading and tennis.


That the contents of third-party articles/blogs published here on the website, and the interpretation of all information in the article/blogs such as data, maps, numbers, opinions etc. displayed in the article/blogs and views or the opinions expressed within the content are solely of the author's; and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of NASSCOM or its affiliates in any manner. NASSCOM does not take any liability w.r.t. content in any manner and will not be liable in any manner whatsoever for any kind of liability arising out of any act, error or omission. The contents of third-party article/blogs published, are provided solely as convenience; and the presence of these articles/blogs should not, under any circumstances, be considered as an endorsement of the contents by NASSCOM in any manner; and if you chose to access these articles/blogs , you do so at your own risk.


© Copyright nasscom. All Rights Reserved.