Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday moved to address growing anxieties among India’s youth over Artificial Intelligence displacing jobs, asserting that the government is already treating the challenge as a “present imperative” rather than a distant threat.
Speaking in an interview with news agency ANI on the sidelines of the world’s largest AI summit hosted at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Modi acknowledged that he understands the concerns around “AI-driven disruptions” in the job market — while making the case that India’s demographic dividend would not be undermined by the technology.
Skilling at Scale: Government’s Answer to AI Anxiety
On the question of how India plans to tackle potential job displacement, Modi pointed to the government’s ongoing investment in skilling and re-skilling initiatives. “The Government has launched one of the most ambitious skilling initiatives in the world. We’re not approaching this as a future problem but we’re treating it as a present imperative,” he told ANI, adding that “preparation is the best antidote to fear.”
AI as a ‘Force Multiplier’
Modi described AI not as a threat, but as a “force multiplier” that will “push the boundaries of what we thought possible.” He said the technology holds the potential to help professionals across sectors — including doctors, teachers, and lawyers — “reach out to and help a larger group of people.”
Drawing on historical precedent, the Prime Minister argued that technology has never truly eliminated work — it has only transformed it. He said some existing jobs will be redefined in the coming years, while new categories of tech-driven employment will be added to India’s economy as part of its ongoing digital transformation, ANI reported.
“For centuries, there have been fears that innovation and technological revolutions will eliminate jobs. Yet history teaches us that whenever innovation happens, new opportunities emerge. The same will be true in the age of AI,” Modi said, expressing confidence that India is already well-positioned to adapt.
India Ranks Third in Stanford’s Global AI Vibrancy Index
The Prime Minister also cited India’s standing in a leading global benchmark to underscore the country’s AI readiness. “In the Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Index 2025, India ranked 3rd, reflecting strong growth in AI R&D, talent, and economy,” Modi told ANI. He expressed confidence that combining innovation with inclusion will ultimately strengthen, rather than weaken, India’s workforce.