Salesforce to Train One Million AI Learners in India by 2030: Arundhati Bhattacharya
Hyderabad, June 9 (TNT): Salesforce President and CEO (South Asia) Arundhati Bhattacharya on Tuesday announced that the company aims to create one million AI-enabled learners in India by 2030, citing a growing demand for artificial intelligence skills and a widening talent gap across industries.
Speaking at an event marking 10 years of Salesforce’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in India, Bhattacharya said the country’s biggest challenge in the AI era is the availability of skilled professionals.
Quoting World Economic Forum estimates, she said 170 million new jobs are expected to be created globally, while about 92 million roles may be displaced, resulting in a substantial net increase in employment opportunities.
In India, a joint study by NASSCOM and Deloitte projects demand for AI professionals to increase from 650,000 to 1.25 million by 2027.
She said AI-related job postings in India have more than doubled, rising from 2.9 per cent to 6.5 per cent, while the supply of qualified professionals continues to lag behind demand.
According to Bhattacharya, 58 per cent of Indian organisations have reported an urgent need for AI reskilling and upskilling, while 40 per cent of employers identify workforce readiness as the biggest obstacle to AI adoption.
Observing that generative and agentic AI technologies have made artificial intelligence more accessible, she said people can now interact with AI using natural language rather than specialised programming skills. However, she emphasised that AI literacy and practical training remain essential.
To address the skill gap, Salesforce will focus on collaboration with government agencies, educational institutions, industry partners and customers.
The company will continue supporting the IndiaAI Mission and work closely with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Salesforce has been conducting internship programmes with AICTE over the past three years, combining virtual learning and project-based industry exposure for students.
Bhattacharya said Salesforce also plans to partner with private universities and learning organisations to provide AI upskilling opportunities for working professionals.
The company will leverage its partner ecosystem, including global consulting firms such as Deloitte, KPMG and PwC, to expand AI training initiatives across the country.
“Our commitment is to create one million empowered and AI-enabled individuals in India by 2030,” she said.
Highlighting Salesforce’s community initiatives, Bhattacharya said India has 3.9 million members of the company’s Trailblazer community, comprising users, developers, partners and customers working on the Salesforce platform.
She also recognised Shriya Ravishankar, recipient of the Salesforce Golden Hoodie award last year, for her outstanding contribution to the Trailblazer community.
Speaking on the occasion, Buddha Chandrasekhar, Chief Coordinating Officer, AICTE, Ministry of Education, said India’s emergence as a global digital and artificial intelligence powerhouse would depend on how effectively it prepares its students and workforce for the future of work.
He said industry-academia collaborations are crucial for bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world innovation, enabling students to acquire skills that are relevant to evolving industry requirements.
Highlighting AICTE’s partnership with Salesforce, Chandrasekhar said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building an industry-ready talent pipeline equipped with digital, cloud, data and AI capabilities.
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