India could significantly boost jobs, productivity and inclusion by scaling artificial intelligence across key sectors, a new analysis shows. The white paper by Prosus, BCG and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) highlights practical pathways for AI deployment in agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services.
India is projected to contribute nearly 20 per cent of incremental global GDP growth over the next 15 years. Around 16 per cent of the world’s AI talent is of Indian origin, providing a strong foundation for scaling AI across industries. The report emphasises that disciplined execution and institutional adoption, rather than access to technology alone, will determine the impact of AI.
In healthcare, India has raised life expectancy to 72 years and facilitated more than 400 million digital consultations through eSanjeevani. The doctor-to-population ratio remains 1:811, with out-of-pocket health expenditure at about 40 per cent. AI-enabled diagnostics, triage, and predictive analytics could expand clinical capacity. For instance, AI-assisted tuberculosis triage using cough audio and symptoms can route patients into low-, medium-, and high-risk categories, freeing clinician time for complex cases.
Agriculture employs approximately 46 per cent of India’s workforce, with 86 per cent of farmers cultivating less than two hectares. Post-harvest losses range between 15 and 20 per cent, equivalent to over USD 18 billion annually. AI-driven crop planning, precision input optimisation, and commodity grading could improve resource utilisation, increase farmer incomes, and enhance sustainability outcomes.
India operates the world’s largest schooling system, with 14 lakh schools and 24 crore students. Foundational learning gaps persist, while teacher time is often consumed by administrative duties. The report notes AI can personalise learning pathways, enable competency-based instruction, and free teachers to focus on mentorship and guided reasoning.
Manufacturing contributes 16 to 17 per cent of GDP and employs more than 110 million people. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for roughly 45 per cent of exports. The report finds that AI-powered predictive maintenance, automation, and quality inspection could address weak productivity and inconsistent quality, helping MSMEs integrate into organised value chains and improve competitiveness.
India’s digital financial ecosystem accounts for more than half of global digital transactions and ranks as the third-largest fintech market globally. The report highlights opportunities for AI to improve credit access, especially for small-ticket borrowers and MSMEs, by enhancing underwriting, collections, and customer engagement. It recommends that financial institutions focus on strategic AI adoption and develop horizontal capabilities across operations rather than isolated solutions.
Across all sectors, the report positions AI as a net employment generator. Emerging roles in AI supervision, data operations, advisory services, diagnostics, compliance, and digital enablement can shift the perception of AI from a job-displacing risk to a catalyst for productivity and opportunity.
The report concludes that India’s strengths, digital public infrastructure, a large AI talent pool, and entrepreneurial depth, provide a unique opportunity to institutionalise AI responsibly. Scaling these capabilities across agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services could serve as a blueprint for other emerging economies seeking inclusive growth.
Source – https://www.bwhealthcareworld.com/article/india-s-ai-opportunity-jobs-gdp-and-inclusion-594001