Published on Dec 5, 2019Updated on Aug 30, 2026
“Everybody in this country should learn to program a computer because it teaches us how to think.” Those were the words of Apple’s iconic founder, Steve Jobs. Today, his advice is not just relevant for the U.S. but the entire world, especially India.
According to Evans Data Corporation, a global research organisation, there were 23 million developers or coders in the world in 2018 and that number is expected to grow to 27.7 million by 2023. Though the U.S. has the largest pool of software developers, India will overtake the U.S. by 2023.
That’s great news but those people are software developers and coding is their primary skill. What about non-tech people in India? Are they all learning to code? Well, we don’t have a definitive answer to that now but certainly a high percentage of jobs in the near future will demand some level of coding skills.
Coding is the language that computers, electronic appliances and smart devices use to carry out specific functions and commands. Your smartphone, smart TV, laptop, your car, IoT devices; all use programs to follow instructions and communicate with the outside world. When you receive an email on your smartphone or when your car tells you the distance left to refuel, or a notification that you receive from your favourite website – that is all coding at work.
We need coding to run all these machines, computer systems, devices and networks of the modern world because machines don’t understand human languages. They only understand a mathematical language called binary code, a complex and infinite combinations of zeroes and ones that is represented by characters, letters and digits in programming language.
Programming languages as C++, Python, JavaScript, PHP, SQL and others convert commands and instructions (characters, letters and digits) into binary code for computers to understand and follow instructions. Without all these codes and programs, the fast, easy and efficient life that we live and experience today would have never been possible.
Governments across the EU are encouraging schools to teach children how to code at a young age. The United Kingdom and 14 other countries in the EU have already included programming as part of the curriculum in secondary schools. Researchers in the EU predict that there will be a shortfall of 500,000 skilled ICT jobs across the EU by 2020. More than 85% of job vacancies in the EU demand IT skills today.
Contrary to what many think, especially in India, coding and programming jobs are not on the decline. In fact, jobs for coders and programmers worldwide are growing 12% faster than the market average.
The Indian government also should take cue from other countries in the EU and start training students at the primary level to meet the huge demands of coding skills within the next decade.
Coding skills will not just be a matter of increasing your job prospects, but a way of survival in the near future. Experts predict that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will gobble up as many as 400 million to 800 million jobs by 2030. [5] The implications are frightening but undeniable. That is where your coding skills will come to the rescue, especially in non-tech jobs. Learning to code is a skill that you don’t want to miss in the 21st century.
Learning to code is not as tough as it may seem. You don’t need a computer science or a technology degree to learn to code. Today there are hundreds of good institutes in India that can help you learn to code in a few months. If you are looking for a personal loan to finance your preferred course, plenty of financial service companies can assist you to get the required funds for your course at attractive personal loan interest rates.
Important Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and may be subject to change from time to time. As product features, eligibility criteria, interest rates, charges, fees, tenures and other terms may be revised as per SMFG India Credit's policies, readers are advised to refer to the latest details from the respective product pages (please select from the top menu). For the latest loan charges, please visit Charges & Fees Link and for the latest Interest rates, please visit Interest Rate Rationale. Please note that final loan terms, disbursement process and eligibility criteria will depend on SMFG India Credit's policies at the time of loan application.
The content of this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute as, an offer or advise to avail any products or services from, or, a commitment to grant any loan by the company. It is not intended to create any rights or obligations against us. All content is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied & we disclaim any warranty or representation, whatsoever, in regards to the content. Please refer to the Privacy Policy of the company to understand the use, processing and storage of your personal data.
Was this helpful?
Insurance disclaimer SMICC is registered with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) as a Corporate Agent. IRDAI Registration No.: [CA0098] CIN No. U65191TN1994PLC079235. The insurance policy is a contract between the customer and the insurance company, and policy is underwritten by insurance companies. SMICC acts only as the distributor and is not responsible for any risk, policy issuance, claim settlement/repudiation etc. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. Purchase of insurance is voluntary and subject to insurer underwriting and policy terms and conditions. Customers are advised to read the policy terms and conditions, benefits, exclusions, claim settlement carefully before purchase. Kindly note that “Insurance Products” are not mandatory for the purpose of the application and disbursement of loan. It shall be the sole discretion of the customer, by providing explicit consent, to avail such insurance along with the Loan.
Beware of Spurious calls/ Fraud phone calls IRDAI is not involved in activities like selling Insurance policies, announcing bonus or investment of premium. Public receiving such phone calls are requested to lodge a police complaint.
