Chinese tech giant Huawei said on Monday it had developed a new way of making semiconductors that could get around its U.S.-enforced lack of access to the most advanced chipmaking equipment. Huawei has in recent years been at the centre of a geopolitical standoff after Washington warned its
World Tarot Day 2026: The most misunderstood tarot cards and what they actually meanPeople tarot as entertainment or fear it because of the dramatic social media readings. But tarot was never meant to work through fear; it is a symbolic tool. Updated on: May 25
From mirrors to mood lighting, these 5 budget-friendly decor tricks can make small homes look surprisingly luxuriousWant to upgrade your home into a luxurious space? Here are some budget-friendly decor ideas you can consider for a beautiful home. Published on: May 25
A Bahraini court sentenced nine defendants to life in prison and two others to three years in jail for collaborating with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out what it described as “hostile and terrorist acts” against Bahrain
Tarot vs Astrology: Which one can predict your future better? An expert breaks it downAstrology explains cosmic timing and patterns. Tarot explains your emotional experience of those patterns. One gives you the map, the other acts like a mirror. Updated on: May 25
Opinion | PM Internship Scheme: The Right Recipe For The AI Age
Opinion | PM Internship Scheme: The Right Recipe For The AI Age
India's major IT services companies are at a crossroads. Long a springboard for engineering graduates, traditional IT giants absorbed waves of freshers into entry-level roles—coding, customer support, and app maintenance—providing a clear path from novice to expert. However, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are now fundamentally reshaping this landscape, challenging established norms of early career progression and the sustainability of the talent pipeline.
A recent EY-CII report which surveyed 200 Indian enterprises found that we are moving towards a diamond-shaped workforce: mid-level and specialist roles are expanding, but entry-level hiring is contracting sharply, with a 20-25 percent decline. For India's 1.3 million engineering graduates, the class of 2026 faces choppy waters. The top five hiring companies are expected to recruit far fewer college students compared to over three-digit numbers per company over two years ago.
AI systems now perform many tasks that once defined junior roles, such as writing code, analysing data, and drafting standard documents. Approximately 64 per cent companies in the EY-CII survey report that AI is being utilised for routine and repetitive tasks. This directly affects the traditional apprenticeship model, which relied on juniors performing “grunt work" in exchange for training and knowledge from experienced professionals. India's hiring managers are already cognizant of a shift towards a disappearing “apprenticeship layer".
On the flipside, Indian enterprises face another challenge. While enterprises have rapidly adopted AI to automate tasks, significant AI skills gap persists with only one in three employees expressing confidence in their AI skills. This gap is expected to widen: India's AI talent demand is projected to grow from 600,000-650,000 to more than 1,250,000 between 2022-27, according to a Deloitte-NASSCOM report. This presents a dilemma: how do we train the next generation of leaders and AI-skilled professionals when the career pipeline is shrinking and entry-level opportunities are diminishing?
Professors Luis Garicano of the London School of Economics and Luis Rayo of the Kellogg School of Management, in their influential paper “Training in the Age of AI: A Theory of Apprenticeship Viability", highlight this tension. Their model outlines a race between AI's ability to substitute entry-level work (“raising the Floor") and its capacity to augment expert-level productivity (“raising the Top"). The key factor is the ratio of the floor to the top—defined as the “Expertise Leverage Ratio"—which determines the viability of the apprenticeship model. If this ratio falls below a certain threshold, experts—even with AI skills—do not possess enough saleable knowledge to justify hiring apprentices, and it's no longer viable to use company revenues to support entry-level workers. If the gap between what an AI-empowered expert can achieve and what AI alone can do is small, companies may bypass juniors entirely, relying on automation for entry-level work. The career ladder risks collapse thereby threatening long-term workforce sustainability.
Could the Indian market already be in the middle of such a collapse? The workforce is moving to a diamond-shaped pattern and entry-level opportunities are drying up as AI automates work. At the same time, companies have rushed to invest in AI at work and fast-track everyday tasks, while AI skills gap exists and threatens widen in the near future.
We argue that the PM Internship Scheme, which incentivises companies to recruit interns in roles akin to apprenticeships, directly responds to this challenge. It keeps the career ladder accessible for young talent even as firms integrate AI, ensuring sustainable growth pathways despite rising automation. The scheme, launched in 2024, offers 12-month internships to one crore young people at India's top 500 companies and provides attractive government-backed stipends to incentivise firms to hire long duration interns.
By targeting 21–24-year-old graduates who have yet to secure their first roles, the scheme resembles traditional apprenticeships. Recent reports indicate that in today's AI-driven employment landscape, the apprenticeship model will be the way forward. Multinational companies are increasingly utilising apprenticeships to identify high-potential individuals, given the cost-effective and flexible nature of these programmes. This enables firms to reduce hiring risks, tap talent in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and allows seniors to offer hands-on training, targeted development, and nurture future leaders aligned with organisational goals.
Swipe Left For Next Video
Consequently, success in the AI era will depend on balancing the efficiencies brought by AI with continued investment in human potential—building a resilient workforce and India's next generation of innovators, and leaders. The PM Internship Scheme stands as a timely solution, equipping India's youth with practical skills and industry exposure to thrive in an AI-driven future, while maintaining a robust and resilient talent pipeline.
Anuj Gupta and Aarshi Tirkey are the India Managing Director and Senior Analyst respectively at BowerGroupAsia, a policy consulting firm. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
Source: News18
Related Posts: England at crossroads as seismic India semi-final looms Anfield Crossroads Career crossroads At crossroads of conflict From Hyundai To Hindalco Serval Major Companies Have Ex Date This Week South Korea scrambles to restore services after major state data centre fire India focuses on eSports growth as Ashwini Vaishnaw meets gaming companies Mcap Of 8 Of India's Top-10 Most Valued Companies Jumps Rs 1 Taiwanese companies want FTA signed fast with India India’s licence fee plan for AI companies could be a global solution to copyright concerns
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET-UG) 2026 examinations scheduled for May 28 in both shifts following a change in the Bakrid holiday date. The agency said revised examination dates for the affected candidates will be announced
2 hours ago
President Nikos Christodoulides present, Cyprus positions itself as Europe gateway for HT Labs, other Indian AI firmsRepresenting HT Labs, the innovation and technology arm of HT Media Group, Avinash Mudaliar, Co-Founder and CEO, participated in discussions. Updated on: May 25
2 hours ago
The Delhi Gymkhana Club has moved the High Court against the Union government’s order directing it to hand over its 27.3-acre premises by June 5, Live Law reported on Monday. The matter was mentioned before Justice Avneesh Jhingan on Monday by advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi
2 hours ago
Strains of the old "Glory, Glory" anthem echoed inside the giant stadium as Tottenham Hotspur stepped back from the precipice of the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history. Spurs players and supporters were in unison at last as they could finally look forward to next season as a
2 hours ago
Australian cricketer Megan Schutt will conclude her international career after the 2026 T20 World Cup. The seasoned bowler aims for a strong finish in her final major ICC campaign. Schutt, a veteran of many successful tournaments, wants to pass the baton to the next generation of players
2 hours ago
The Japanese fruit ‘sando’ is becoming India’s favourite summer dessert; take a look With fluffy milk bread, clouds of whipped cream, and jewel-like slices of fresh fruit tucked inside, the Japanese sando has become India’s go-to dessert Updated on: May 25
2 hours ago
Madhuri Dixit serves ‘a little bit of drama’ as she gives classic white saree a modern twist with chic jacketMadhuri Dixit proves age is just a number as she stuns in ivory saree with floral prints, layered with a sleek jacket, blending elegance with modern drama. Published on: May 25
2 hours ago
Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard: Where is slain mom's family now? What to know as crime drama streamsThe release of Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard on Netflix has brought the 2019 murder case in focus again. Know where the slain mom's family is. May 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Crude oil prices plunge after US and Iran have shared significant signals on the progress in talks to end the war, however both sides are still at loggerheads on certain issues. Global oil prices have plunged over 5.5% after US and Iran have indicated that there is significant progress in their
2 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.From office work to AI tasks: The best Asus ExpertBook P3 and Snapdragon PCs to consider in 2026AI laptops are everywhere in 2026, but only a few actually improve daily work
2 hours ago
LeBron James has spent more than two decades rewriting NBA history. On Sunday, though, one of his most remarkable streaks finally came to an end. For the first time since his rookie season in 2003-04, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was not named to an All-NBA team
2 hours ago
Priyadarshan on Paresh Rawal's exit from Hera Pheri 3: ‘Not aware’Hera Pheri 3 faces turbulence as Paresh Rawal reportedly leaves the film, returning his signing fee. May 25, 2026, 13:38:45 IST Written by Vibha Maru Share via Copy link The controversy around Hera Pheri 3 doesn’t seem to end
2 hours ago
BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray has resigned from the party. He cited systematic belittlement as the reason for his departure. This follows similar exits by other Rajya Sabha MPs. Samantaray expressed gratitude to party chief Naveen Patnaik for past opportunities
2 hours ago
Prashant Kishor to finally contest an election himself? Jan Suraaj Party targets Bankipur, via an ashramKishor is bullish on Bankipur, and claimed that only the Jan Suraaj Party can defeat the BJP there. "We just need to field a strong candidate," he said. Updated on: May 25
2 hours ago
It’s been almost five months since Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3 sparked controversy. Now, as the dispute between Farhan Akhtar and the actor continues, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has finally intervened, announcing that its decision on the matter will be revealed
2 hours ago
Even George Russell’s biggest critics would probably admit one thing right now: the Briton’s luck this season has been brutal. And standing beside his stricken Mercedes in Montreal on Sunday night, Russell looked completely drained by it all. After opening the season with victory in Shanghai
2 hours ago
Turn a classic, creamy tiramisu into a refreshing summer treat by swapping coffee for juicy mango and layering it with fresh fruit and light mascarpone cream. This mango‑infused version keeps the dessert’s rich, custard‑like texture but adds a bright
2 hours ago
As Cannes Film Festival closes, which are the acclaimed films from this year's crop that could be heading for Academy Award nominations? If you want to know which films are going to be nominated for Oscars, it's worth looking at what premiered at the Cannes Film Festival the previous May
2 hours ago
Delhi Capitals' IPL journey concluded with a sixth-place finish. Coach Hemang Badani cited inconsistent play and missed opportunities as reasons for the team's failure to reach the playoffs. Crucial losses, dropped catches, and batting collapses hampered their campaign
2 hours ago
3 elephant calves die within 17 days in Chhattisgarh’s DharamjaigarhEight elephant calves have died in Dharamjaigarh forest division over the past five months due to drowning, getting trapped in marshland, etc Published on: May 25, 2026 1:27 PM IST By Ritesh Mishra Share via Copy link Three
2 hours ago
The Canadian Grand Prix was the race in which the Formula 1 title battle finally came alive this year. It was also, however, the race in which it took a potentially decisive turn, putting a huge dent in George Russell's hopes of beating his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to the
2 hours ago
CBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window ends today, direct link hereCBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window will close today, May 25, 2026. The direct link to apply is given here. Published on: May 25
2 hours ago
Microsoft techie couple in Noida breaks down ₹1.6 lakh monthly expenses, says city feels balanced despite rising costsA Microsoft couple in Noida revealed they spent around ₹1.6 lakh monthly while balancing work, lifestyle and family needs. Published on: May 25
2 hours ago
A CBSE Class 12 student has raised serious concerns over the board’s re-evaluation process after claiming the Physics answer sheet uploaded under his roll number does not belong to him. The student shared comparisons of multiple answer sheets and demanded an urgent investigation into the alleged
2 hours ago
Thyroid disorder cases have been gradually rising over the past few years, especially in younger adults and the younger working generations. Even though genes and autoimmune disorders play a role, the way we live our lives is becoming a reason for thyroid problems. We speak to Dr Aravind Badiger
2 hours ago
Sandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 yearsSandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 years Published on: May 25, 2026 1:47 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Rinkven , Indian golfer Yuvraj Sandhu endured a difficult final day to finish T-63 at the Soudal Open here
2 hours ago
Cardiologist reveals the real cause of heart attacks that most people overlook and it’s not just ‘bad cholesterol’Could your gut health be affecting your heart? A cardiologist explains how inflammation, poor sleep, stress, and unhealthy habits may raise heart attack risk. Published on: May 25
5 hours ago
