A new Accenture report reveals that nearly half of all global cybersecurity positions remain vacant, primarily due to a critical shortage of professionals with both technical expertise and essential business acumen. The report highlights a significant gap between the skills required for modern cybersecurity and what the labour market currently offers, exacerbated by poor retention and underinvestment in upskilling.
The technology services sector in India will continue to remain relevant to global enterprises transformation in the artificial intelligence (AI) era, the Nasscom US CEO Forum said, even though there will be changes in how services are delivered and scaled up. Chief executive officers of Indian technology companies, who attended the discussion, also said AI will expand the addressable market opportunity across enterprise modernisation, data, AI governance and intelligent operations.
Oracle has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh State Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) to provide free digital skills training in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and data science to 300,000 students and professionals by 2029, aiming to enhance employability and build a future-ready workforce.
The aim is to win over the country's enterprises, developers and startups as AI systems shift from answering questions to autonomously executing tasks.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced annual salary hikes effective April 1, with top performers receiving double-digit increases, while also renewing its multi-year strategic partnership with UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) to support its omnichannel and data-driven transformation with AI.
''When these agents are deployed at enterprise-grade scale, your risk will not just amplify, it will mutate.' 'And the reason is because you will have ungoverned agents.'
Andhra Pradesh and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have signed an MoU to establish the PNB Quantum Finance Hub at Amaravati Quantum Valley. This initiative aims to foster innovation and adopt next-generation technologies like AI and Quantum Computing in the banking sector, focusing on cybersecurity, fraud detection, and customer experience.
A new report by ADP reveals that one in two Indian companies plan to adopt AI-powered payroll systems within the next 12 months, driven by the need for automation in workforce management, compliance, and compensation decisions. However, firms are increasingly cautious about data protection risks, especially with the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
The message is becoming clearer: Employees who fail to meaningfully integrate AI into their work risk falling behind in performance assessments.
A new study analysing millions of posts from underground cybercrime forums reveals that cybercriminals are struggling to effectively utilise AI tools, despite widespread experimentation since the launch of ChatGPT.
Cybersecurity breaches have emerged as the top risk shaping organisational performance, with 61 per cent of respondents identifying it as the primary risk, said a Ficci and EY report.
TeamLease Digital CEO Neeti Sharma discusses how AI is driving a structural reset in the tech industry, leading to layoffs, reshaping hiring practices, and increasing job insecurity.
Concerns have emerged about the impact of AI adoption on young workers, particularly those seeking their first job in high-skilled occupations.
NIT Rourkela has announced the launch of four new academic programmes for the 2026-27 session, focusing on emerging technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies.
Public sector banks in India are increasing their IT spending to bolster cybersecurity measures in response to concerns about Anthropic's Claude Mythos AI tool and its potential to exploit vulnerabilities in financial systems.
The H-1B visa once symbolised the American Dream for Indians, but today's students are increasingly asking whether they need America at all. In 1995, the question was: How do I get to America? In 2026, it may be: Do I need to?
Nayagam PP, career counsellor and founder of EduJobs360, explains how traditional engineering choices are being replaced with flexible, future-ready career paths that align with industry requirements.
The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) has welcomed the Karnataka Budget 2026-27, highlighting its focus on economic growth, support for MSMEs, and infrastructure development. Industry leaders have expressed optimism about the budget's potential to boost manufacturing, create jobs, and drive innovation in the state.
rediffGURU Chocko Valliappa, founder and CEO of Vee Technologies, tells young aspirants how they can make an informed career choice.
Top female executives are calling for corporate India to redesign workplace systems to support women's advancement into leadership roles in the technology sector, particularly in emerging fields like artificial intelligence.
'We frequently discuss AI, but we're waiting for other countries to develop solutions rather than creating intellectual property ourselves.' 'We haven't yet produced comprehensive AI solutions developed in India for global markets.'
Companies typically face challenges in recruiting candidates who are skilled in AI, machine learning and generative artificial intelligence though they have hundreds of vacancies.
AI and machine learning remain the top focus areas, followed by software development (36 per cent) and cybersecurity (35 per cent).
'Headcount expansion is more likely in revenue-linked and product-critical teams than in broad based hiring.'
Among fresher job seekers, one in three believes AI will create more jobs.
'People are taking effort to train and adapt to current skills.' 'If that is not there, they are not useful to us.' 'They have to adapt to new technology, and what is important is learnability.'
...compared with 153,000 in all of 2024.
Across all sectors, the future of work depends on adaptability.
After a year of muted single-digit growth, hiring intent has returned to double digits at 11 per cent, up from 9.75 per cent last year, supported by formalisation and regional expansion, says a report. According to the India Decoding Jobs 2026 Report, launched by digital recruitment platform Taggd in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), sectors such as BFSI, manufacturing, and infrastructure are set to drive hiring momentum.
The Big Four accounting firms have increased the hiring of people from technology backgrounds in India amid an increased focus of clients on digital transformation, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. EY India said that it has expanded its overall tech talent pool by 3x in the last three years across service lines including consulting, tax, assurance, and strategy & transactions. "Today over 50 per cent of our workforce is from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and technology background," it said, adding that it continues to hire significantly in the areas of AI, cloud computing, data analytics and cybersecurity to help its clients in transformation.
Entry level engineers for these roles can be paid between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh annually, which can go beyond Rs 30 lakhs for people with more than eight years of experience.
Despite the alarming figures on job displacement, AI is expected to generate millions of new roles, echoing historical trends of technological transformation.
'Employers increasingly want candidates who can take AI pilots from proof-of-concept to production-ready systems.' 'That requires governance, monitoring, and ROI measurement -- skills that go beyond coding and into business impact.'
The underrepresentation of women in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) poses a significant risk of perpetuating the prevailing societal biases into future technologies, according to a top Microsoft executive. Himani Agrawal, chief partner officer, Microsoft India and South Asia, believes that inclusion is a shared responsibility and if AI continues to be shaped without diverse perspectives, the biases of today risk becoming hardwired into the technology of tomorrow.
After several muted quarters, India's IT sector hiring stabilised in the first half of FY 2025-26 as hiring patterns improved, following a reasonable rise in the recruitment of freshers and mid-senior level professionals, HR solutions provider Adecco India said on Tuesday.
'Returning Indians can leverage their international skills and the strong funding environment for start-ups here.'
Fresher hiring, which has been subdued as Indian information technology (IT) services firms scaled back their recruitment, is set for a turnaround. The IT sector's fresher hiring is expected to rise by 20-25 per cent for 2024-25 (FY25). Additionally, the global capability centres are projected to boost their fresher hiring by 40 per cent compared to last year, according to a TeamLease Digital analysis.
'Don't look at Russia only as a place to earn quickly and then leave.' 'Try to build experience in serious companies, skills and certifications that will serve you anywhere in the world.'
Even as cyber threats continue to rise in India - the second-largest global active internet user base - the country is currently facing a big skill gap in the cybersecurity domain and represents just six per cent of global cybersecurity jobs, finds a report. As of May 2023, the industry had about 40,000 open opportunities, indicating the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. However, the demand-supply gap stood at 30 per cent, projecting a major skill challenge in the industry, finds the study by tech staffing firm TeamLease.
Indian IT hiring landscape is at a pivotal juncture as it transitions from a year of decline towards a more hopeful future. The focus on specialised skills, particularly in AI and data science, combined with geographical shifts towards Tier 2 cities, indicates a transformation within the sector.
