India is fast emerging as a global hub for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) skills. According to Coursera, one of the world’s leading online learning platforms, over 2.6 million enrolments in GenAI-related courses have been recorded in 2025 alone—averaging one enrolment every 30 seconds.
India: Coursera’s Second-Largest Market
With 29 million registered learners, India stands as Coursera’s second-largest market after the United States. The learning landscape is also shifting demographically:
- 70% of learners are men, 30% women
- Women learners, however, have grown by an impressive 290% in recent years
While the rise is encouraging, Coursera’s Chief Content Officer, Ms. Marni Baker Stein, highlighted that there is still room for greater gender parity.
Partnerships with Top Universities
To boost industry-relevant education, Coursera has partnered with 18 Indian universities, including:
- IITs (Guwahati, Bombay, Roorkee)
- IIMs (Calcutta, Indore, Ahmedabad)
- BITS Pilani
These collaborations are helping bridge the academic-to-industry gap by offering specialised courses tailored to the future workforce.
Industry Collaboration: Responsible AI in Focus
On the industry side, Coursera has joined hands with Fractal Analytics, which now offers 26 courses and five specialisations. Among these are programmes on responsible AI in the GenAI era, underscoring the importance of ethical and sustainable technology adoption.
AI-Powered Learning Support
Coursera’s AI-driven feedback tool, Coach, has become a popular companion for learners. Since its launch in September 2024, it has facilitated 3.7 million messages in India, with 400,000+ active users.
Interestingly, learners engaging with Coach are more likely to complete their courses—a trend especially notable among women learners and those with weaker academic foundations.
The Road Ahead
The rise of GenAI skills in India reflects both the country’s growing digital-first economy and its talent-driven advantage. With partnerships spanning academia and industry, and tools designed to enhance learning outcomes, India is gearing up to become a global leader in GenAI adoption and innovation.
