World Bank Ranks India Among Top 10 Emerging Markets in AI Readiness

According to the World Bank report India and Artificial Intelligence: Seizing the Development Opportunity, which was published in October 2026, India is one of the top 10 emerging market economies ready for artificial intelligence. The World Bank report points out that among the most significant assets of India is a vast technically-oriented workforce, an information technology sector that is internationally integrated, and a digital infrastructure of the government. Moreover, it points out opportunities in increasing productivity and delivery of services with the help of AI.

Readiness of India to Artificial Intelligence: Main Findings from the Report of the World Bank

According to the World Bank, India is an emerging-market performer, which has managed to build substantial expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) under certain conditions.

Three key reasons include the following,

• Abundance of technical labor force: India has a sizable number of experts in technology and engineering that could work on development and implementation of AI.
• International integration of IT sector: International integration of information technology sector makes it possible for domestic capacities to link up with global business.
• Digital infrastructure: There are digital platforms that facilitate service provision and make possible the use of AI.

It is necessary to spread the use of AI beyond the borders of big firms located in urban centers of the country.

AI Investment and Technology Workforce in India

In India, private investments in AI have risen to $4.1 billion in 2025, almost three times the level in the preceding year based on the data given in the report coverage. The rise is an indication of increased investment in the technology sector in India.

Furthermore, employment in the Indian GCCs has risen to 2.36 million. GCCs are off-shore centres set up by MNCs for carrying out activities like technology development, research, analytics, engineering and business operations.

India’s technology workforce and technology services industry offer a base for implementation of AI. However, investments alone will not assure success. The business enterprises require skilled manpower, computing power, infrastructure and organizational capabilities to implement AI.

AI readiness and the global AI divide

The World Bank’s policy research document “Beyond the AI Divide: A Simple Way of Recognizing Global and Local Overachievers in AI Readiness” analyzes the disparities that exist between various countries’ readiness in respect to artificial intelligence.

The document also highlights how these countries exist in varying levels of the economic and technological environments. In high-income economies, such as Singapore and the United States, strong capital markets and sophisticated regulatory structures exist. In upper-middle-income economies like China and Malaysia, there are technological and infrastructural capabilities that allow them to implement AI at scale.

How Should India Improve Its Readiness for AI?

According to the World Bank, the strategy should not be limited to investments or the development of new technologies only.

Instead, it should include widening the availability of AI technologies, developing workers’ skills, enhancing the infrastructure, and the integration of AI technologies into public services. An adaptive governance framework should also be established to manage technological shifts and new risks.