India produces 10 times the school pupils with coding skills compared to US: Report

The number of school students with coding skills in India is much higher than in the United States, says a report.

"India produces the most school pupils with coding skills - almost 10 times as many as the US (although the percentages of those graduating from high school are small)," said the report based on the Barclays Digital Development Index.

The index measures and compares the digital skills and confidence of workers in 10 major economies. It aims to understand the readiness of countries to compete and thrive in the digital economy. The report said coding is finding its way into primary education in some countries, including England and South Korea. In India, weakness in public digital skills policy is partly counterbalanced by strong involvement of the private sector.

"India's technology success suggests that business involvement in education and training can plug gaps left by the government, and it can be decisive," it said. The report said emerging-market work forces are at considerable ease with technology.

"If their policy and infrastructure environments improve, work forces in India, China and other emerging markets will compete increasingly with their developed world rivals in the digital economy," it added.