India set for decades of strong growth, says Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, and K V Ramani, Founder and Chancellor, SAI University, at the convocation of Sai University 2026 batch in Chennai, on September 19, 2026. | Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh

India is poised for strong economic growth over the next several decades, creating significant opportunities for the younger generation, said N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, here on Saturday.

India was entering a period of economic growth that could be “unparalleled in our own history and unparalleled with any part of the world,” even as Artificial Intelligence, technology and regulatory change reshape the global economy, he said addressing graduates at the Sai University convocation on Saturday.

Chandrasekaran said the graduates were entering the workforce at a time of rapid technological, economic and regulatory change. While artificial intelligence had raised concerns about job losses, technology would also open up a range of new opportunities, he added.

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“The world is full to the brim with possibilities,” he said, adding that AI would create opportunities and industries that were difficult to imagine today.

Within five years there could be industries that do not exist today, along with new areas of employment and new terminology that graduates would not be familiar with at present, he added.

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, receiving a Honorary Doctor of Science certificate from K V Ramani, Founder and Chancellor, Sai University, at the convocation of Sai University 2026 batch in Chennai, on September 19, 2026. | Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh

Chandrasekaran urged graduates to prepare themselves for a long professional journey, comparing a career to a marathon. He suggested adopting a “dual race” mindset — pursuing long-term objectives while also seeking shorter-term wins that provide momentum.

“If you are from a computer science background, you may do something else for one year and if you are not keeping pace, you will get outdated,” Chandrasekaran added.

He also urged graduates to remain curious, be open to ideas and develop the ability to work with people with different skills.

As problems become increasingly complex, no individual could possess all the knowledge required to address them. Building teams with complementary capabilities would therefore be important, he said.