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New research by education company Emeritus finds that 82% of India's Gen Z use AI or GenAI tools at least weekly to learn or build new skills, while 65% of early-career respondents believe a degree alone is no longer sufficient to succeed in the job market. The findings come from the India Gen Z Outlook 2026 . The No Cap Generation report, based on 1,010 respondents aged 15 to 28 across pre-college, transitioning and early-career life stages in major Indian metros.
The shift is happening alongside a restructuring of what young people want from work. Seventy-four per cent of respondents say they prioritise work-life balance over formal leadership titles, and 65% agree that a successful career does not require becoming an executive leader. A separate strand of the data shows purpose gaining weight alongside pay, with 79% saying they want their careers to contribute positively to the environment.
The upskilling pressure, however, is not straightforwardly welcome. Around 60% of respondents say they feel burned out by the expectation that they must continuously upgrade their skills , even as 75% believe that acquiring the right skills is what will keep them competitive.
Institutions are responding. Curricula are being redesigned to embed AI, cloud and emerging technology skills, with Chitkara University's Microsoft-aligned programmes and other industry-reverse-engineered courses cited as examples. Experts including IIT Madras's B Ravindran have cautioned against surface-level AI tool use that lacks grounding in mathematics, computing and domain expertise.
The overseas education pathway is also shifting. Nearly half , 48% of those who would consider studying abroad say their interest has declined over the past year, driven by cost, visa requirements and uncertainty around post-study work opportunities, with the US seeing the sharpest drop. Instead, 68% of respondents say they would be likely or extremely likely to study a programme offered by an internationally ranked university in India.
For employers, the data points to a talent pool that is technically engaged with AI but increasingly sceptical of traditional credentials and more selective about the kinds of careers it wants to pursue.
