Blockchain developers are in high demand
The GLOBAL BLOCKCHAIN solutions market is growing at a rate of 45% annually and is likely to reach $34 billion by 2026, leading to increasing demand for specialists in this niche technology. The story is the same in India. “Blockchain solutions are increasingly being used in banking, finance, insurance, pharma, agriculture, e-governance and healthcare sectors,” says Neelu Jyothi Ahuja, professor at the School of Computer Sciences, UPES, a multidisciplinary university in Dehradun .
However, among the two million software developers in India, only 5,000 have the necessary skills required to make a career in this niche but nascent technology.
“The canvas of blockchain professionals is large and growing. Some of the key roles are blockchain developer, blockchain consultant, blockchain cryptocurrency developer, cryptocurrency analyst, blockchain solution architect, research analyst, etc,” says Ahuja.
Recognizing the demand-supply gap, academic institutions, including universities, are introducing courses like B.Tech in Blockchain Technology that will help students acquire the right skill sets to explore a career in Blockchain Technology.
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Besides the IITs and IIITs that offer a number of courses in blockchain technology, many in collaboration with industry, there are a number of private educational institutions that offer programs in this much-demanded technology. Among those offering a B.Tech course in blockchain technology are Sharda University and Bennett University in Greater Noida, UP, while Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru, has Alliance University, Presidency University and Milestone Institute of Allied Health Sciences with dedicated courses. UPES also offers a four-year, full-time bachelor’s program in blockchain technology, in collaboration with IBM.
Meanwhile, upGrad offers an executive PG program in software development – specialization in blockchain in association with IIIT, Bangalore, which is a 13-month course, delivered online. IIM Nagpur also offers a postgraduate certificate program in blockchain technology in collaboration with Times Pro, this is an online course of nine months duration.
As a distributed ledger-based technology, blockchain technology provides transparency and traceability of the shared data across business networks. It is not possible to access or edit data stored on the blockchain without achieving consensus from all participants in the network. This protects the data and makes it tamper-proof and immutable. The Indian government is setting up a national blockchain framework for rapid adoption across industries.
HUGE POTENTIAL
Blockchain solutions are increasingly being used in the BFSI, pharma, agriculture and healthcare sectors
The government is setting up a national blockchain framework for rapid adoption
A number of public and private institutes offer programs in blockchain technology
