There’s a corresponding increase in Pytest (980%) and cloud certification (108%) programs, with the fastest growth in content consumption in AI productivity tools, Microsoft Playwright and Prompt Engineering. While business skills like Risk Management (90%) are seeing some growth, the dominant trend emerging is a move towards deeper specialization in role-specific technical paths.
The increase in demand for AI skills in India goes beyond simple curiosity. Indian learners are focused on adopting new tools and building systems that make them work. The numbers reflect this trend: a sharp rise in skills content consumption like System Design Interview (145%) and FastAPI (108%) indicates a strong focus on integration, ensuring new capabilities are woven into existing cloud and API architectures.
Simultaneously, a robust test and automation culture is emerging, with significant growth in learning frameworks such as Pytest (980%) and Microsoft Playwright (217%). This focus on upskilling in automated testing demonstrates a recognition among Indian learners that as systems become more complex and dependent on AI, quality and reliability will become the cornerstone to success.
Even as the demand for technical skills increases, data from the report underscores the enduring value of soft skills related to communication, leadership, change management, and more. Growth in Relationship Building upskilling (90%) signals that technical professionals are recognising the importance of soft skills in an AI-driven workplace, as communication, collaboration and critical thinking are fast becoming skills that are sought after. Additionally, a 90% increase in demand to learn Risk Management indicates a proactive approach to AI adoption in India. As AI systems are integrated into critical business functions, professionals are recognizing the need to manage the associated risks, including ethical dilemmas, data privacy concerns, and security vulnerabilities.
“AI fluency will be the new standard in 2026. It isn’t enough to have a basic understanding of technical skills anymore. True fluency comes with a holistic and in-depth understanding of AI’s capabilities, emerging applications, risks, and limitations. Most roles require using AI every day and as such, professionals need proactive skills development for AI readiness so it can be used fluidly in daily use cases,” said Vinay Pradhan, Country Manager & Senior Director Sales, India, Udemy.
