New Delhi, April 15 -- For decades, India's $300 billion IT outsourcing industry has run on a simple promise: deliver reliable software at scale using a vast pool of skilled, low-cost talent. That model created millions of entry-level jobs and helped build a new middle class.

Now, artificial intelligence is beginning to redraw that equation.

The shift is no longer theoretical. AI tools are already handling a significant share of routine technology work, reducing the need for large teams of junior engineers. Estimates suggest AI can perform 20-40% of common tech tasks, including writing code, generating test cases, and maintaining documentation.

The impact is most visible at the bottom of the pyramid.

Entry-level roles such as software...