TLDR: India has witnessed an unprecedented surge in generative AI (GenAI) course enrollments, doubling to 2.6 million learners, the highest globally. This boom, primarily driven by Coursera, highlights India’s strong ambition in digital skills, though challenges like a significant gender gap and overall skills proficiency persist. The country faces a projected shortage of over one million AI professionals by 2026, prompting increased focus on upskilling and industry-academia collaborations.
India is at the forefront of a global revolution in artificial intelligence education, with generative AI (GenAI) course enrollments skyrocketing to 2.6 million, marking a remarkable 107% year-on-year increase. This surge positions India as the world leader in GenAI learning, according to the recently released Coursera Global Skills Report 2025.
The data, predominantly from the online learning platform Coursera, reveals that India now boasts over 31 million total learners, surpassing Europe and solidifying its position as Coursera’s second-largest market globally, trailing only the United States. The pace of adoption is staggering, with an average of one GenAI course enrollment occurring every 30 seconds.
Most of these new learners are freshers diving into fundamental AI and GenAI concepts. However, a significant portion also includes professionals seeking to reskill or upskill, opting for courses covering AI and machine learning fundamentals, design basics, GenAI applications in software development, and various coding languages.
Despite this impressive growth, challenges remain. A notable gender gap persists, with only 30% of GenAI learners being women, compared to 40% across all courses on Coursera. While there has been a encouraging 290% growth in women learners on the platform overall, the disparity in emerging tech fields like GenAI highlights a critical area for improvement.
Furthermore, while India leads in enrollment numbers, its overall skills proficiency ranks 89th globally and 19th in the Asia Pacific region. Specific skill levels are reported at 18% for business, 22% for technology, and 20% for data science. India’s AI Maturity Index stands at 46th, indicating a growing but not yet fully mature AI ecosystem.
The rapid technological shift driven by AI is also reshaping the job market. India faces a projected shortage of over one million AI professionals by 2026. This concern is underscored by recent developments in the IT sector, where AI and automation are contributing to job displacement. For instance, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reportedly cut over 12,000 jobs, primarily in middle and senior management, citing limited deployment opportunities and skill mismatches.
In response, there’s a concerted effort towards building a future-ready workforce. Coursera’s Director for Campus and Government in India, Prashasti Rastogi, noted the foundational work being laid through national AI missions, skills-based hiring reforms, and interdisciplinary education models. Coursera has forged partnerships with 18 Indian universities, including prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Additionally, a recent collaboration with enterprise AI firm Fractal Analytics aims to offer specialized, industry-driven courses and microlearning programs, including those focused on responsible AI in the GenAI era.
Also Read:
- Nasscom Report Highlights Critical Funding and Infrastructure Deficiencies in India’s Expanding Generative AI Startup Sector
- India’s AI Technology Spending Projected to Reach $10.4 Billion by 2028, Driven by Agentic AI Adoption
Beyond GenAI, professional certificate enrollments on Coursera have also seen a 23% year-on-year increase, reaching 3.3 million, with popular choices including full-stack development and DevOps, reflecting a broader trend of young Indians investing in future-ready tech skills.
