'Blue collar is the new gold collar': Anand Mahindra's AI bet on India's young talent in 2026

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra, in his New Year message, reflected on a year of market leadership across businesses, the company’s evolution from rugged dependability to frontier innovation, and a broader shift reshaping India’s future. He made the case for why the country’s young population is well placed to win the AI race, backed by the right education imparted by institutions with a global outlook.

Calling 2025 a “deeply satisfying year”, Mahindra said the group not just recorded strong numbers, it redefined expectations as the group fired on all cylinders. “Our SUV business led the market with record share…farm equipment business achieved its highest ever quarterly market share…electric three-wheelers continued to dominate a highly competitive space…Tech Mahindra sharpened its edge in Al and operational excellence…Mahindra Finance combined profit growth with industry-leading asset quality…Mahindra Lifespaces continued its momentum in sustainable real estate,” Mahindra said in his New Year note.

He said Mahindra, once seen as a homegrown brand known for rugged dependability, has transformed into a modern, confident, and future-ready group. “EVs did not just change our portfolio. They changed the conversation. We have raised the bar, and now we must keep raising it.”

As the world pivot to AI era, Mahindra made a case for why why 'blue colour' is the new ‘gold colour’, saying though many fear disruption as AI brings in historical shift in the way industry work, he disagrees. “I believe Al is an accelerator not a threat. As intelligent systems take over routine tasks, practical skills, accelerated by Al, will become premium assets, offering income, dignity and raising blue collar work t o a new level o f long-term relevance.”

He said he sees Al bringing about a fundamental shift in the value of “hands-on” skills: a technicial who can work confidently alongside Al, a machinist who understands digital tools, and a craftsperson whose intuition is enhanced by data will change the world of shop floor work. 

“When technology amplifies skilled hands, those hands can become as rewarding, if not more rewarding, than traditional white-collar work. Al can turn blue collar into gold.”

This shift in the nature of work coincides with a tectonic shift in global talent mobility, observes Mahindra. He does not see it as a challenge but a historic opportunity to pivot from being the world's "back office" to its premier "think tank".  He sees the tightening of visa policies in the West as a "brain gain" for India. 

He said technology is the world may be unpredictable right now, with technology evolving and geopolitics shifting but uncertainty is not an enemy. “Equipped with sharper capabilities, deeper skills and an unwavering commitment to nurturing world-class talent, we will not just navigate the storm, we will chart new courses for growth. The future belongs to those who build it. Let us build it together.”