Nasscom warns of decline in deep engineering skills as AI takes over routine work
Nasscom has warned that India's tech workforce risks becoming 'AI-reliant' rather than 'AI-native' due to a decline in fundamental engineering skills. The industry body suggests that academia and companies must redesign training to ensure junior engineers maintain deep technical expertise despite AI automation.
Why it matters
As AI automates routine coding, the long-term sustainability of India's IT sector depends on maintaining high-level engineering judgment.
India risks building a technology workforce that is merely AI-reliant rather than truly AI-native if the industry and academia fail to preserve deep engineering expertise, IT industry body Nasscom has warned.
While over 90% of the country's early-career tech professionals are already adopting artificial intelligence, the apex industry body cautioned that the decline of routine coding work must not lead to a drop in fundamental technical skills.
“India is uniquely positioned to emerge as a global hub for AI-native technology talent. It is important to keep in mind that AI skills penetration is not the same as being AI-native...India risks scaling a workforce that is AI-reliant rather than AI-native.
"Academia must strengthen fundamentals, while industry must redesign onboarding and mentorship to ensure that the decline of routine work does not lead to a decline in deep engineering expertise,” Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Nasscom, said.
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