India Among Top 3 Destinations for AI Talent Amid Decline in Global Mobility: Report

India has cemented its position as a leading global hub for artificial intelligence (AI) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent, according to a new report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The BCG Top Talent Tracker Q2 2026, released on Tuesday, places India among the top three destinations worldwide for both AI and STEM professionals who relocate internationally. This marks a significant milestone for the country, which has been steadily building its reputation as a powerhouse in the digital economy.

Despite a broad-based decline in the cross-border movement of highly skilled workers in 2025, India recorded a notable increase in its share of such talent. The country now accounts for approximately 6 per cent of globally mobile AI talent and 7 per cent of STEM talent, figures that underscore its rising prominence in the knowledge economy. The report notes that overall global skilled migration contracted sharply, though specific magnitudes were not detailed in the publicly available summary.

Perhaps the most striking finding in the tracker is India’s gain of 1.3 percentage points in AI talent share during 2025—the largest single-year increase among major destinations. This uptick came even as traditional magnets for talent, such as the United States and parts of Western Europe, saw slower growth or declines. The BCG tracker monitors flows of professionals across four key categories, and India increased its share in all of them, signalling a broad-based appeal that extends beyond any single domain.

Several factors may explain India’s growing magnetism. The country’s vibrant start-up ecosystem, particularly in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, has created a demand for cutting-edge skills. Major technology firms, both domestic and international, have established large research and development centres in India, offering opportunities for work on global products. Government initiatives, including the National Programme on AI and various skill development missions, have prioritised the creation of a talent pipeline aligned with industry needs. Furthermore, the relative ease of doing business and the widespread use of English as a business language lower barriers for international professionals.

The findings come at a time when global competition for AI expertise has reached fever pitch. Countries are offering expedited visas, research grants, and tax breaks to attract top researchers. Against this backdrop, India’s gains are particularly noteworthy. However, the report also serves as a reminder that overall global mobility of highly skilled professionals has weakened. This trend, which reflects a mix of stricter immigration policies, geopolitical tensions, and the post-pandemic rise of remote work, could reshape how talent is distributed in the coming years.

For India, the challenge will be to sustain this momentum. Competing destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Singapore and China, are aggressively courting AI talent. Moreover, retaining homegrown talent remains a perennial concern; many Indian graduates still seek opportunities abroad. Strengthening domestic research institutions, fostering industry-academia linkages, and creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurship will be essential to maintain the current trajectory.

BCG’s Top Talent Tracker is a proprietary index that synthesizes data from migration statistics, professional networking platforms, and employer surveys. The Q2 2026 edition provides a snapshot of talent movements as of early 2026, offering valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders navigating the intensifying war for talent. While the tracker places India in the top three, it does not provide a numeric ranking beyond that, leaving open the question of whether India has surpassed traditional leaders like the US or UK. Nevertheless, the data clearly indicates that India is no longer just a source of global talent but an increasingly attractive destination in its own right.