In a bid to create more awareness and make the younger workforce more capable at emerging trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and machine learning, the Indian government is planning to launch a national policy soon, to reskill and upskill the youth in the country.

Aiming to strengthen the government’s ‘Skill India’ mission, the policy will focus on re-skilling, creating a workforce that can tap new opportunities and cope with technological advancements.

An official from the government said the move aimed to ensure individuals had access to economic opportunities by remaining competitive in the new world of work with businesses having access to the talent they needed for the jobs of the future. The programme aimed to cater to changing industry demand.

Also Read: Gartner Debunks Five Artificial Intelligence Misconceptions

Some of the identified sectors that can undergo the change first include the banking, financial services and insurance (BSFI) sector, IT/ITes (information technology enabled services), manufacturing, ecommerce, retail, logistics, healthcare and telecommunications.

According to a Nasscom report, about 40% of India’s total workforce has to be reskilled over the next five years to cope with emerging trends such as AI, IoT, machine learning and blockchain.

Launched in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Skill India Mission’ aims to make India the “skill capital” of the world. The programme intends to impart skills training to 400 million people by 2022 through flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Prohatsan Yojana, the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.