Compiler Error on using Braced Initialisation C++ - c++

Question

The following error is received while using empty braces to initialise variables:
error: expected ';' at end of declaration
int b{};
^
;
The code being used is:
#include<iostream>
int main(){
int a{};
std::cout<<"hello"<<std::endl;
return 0;
}
I'm using the latest version of Microsoft VS Code on an M1 based Macbook Air. Extensions being used are C/C++ Intellisense and Code Runner.
Same error is displayed when running the file in terminal.
The tasks.json file looks like this:
{
"version": "2.0.0",
"tasks": [
{
"type": "shell",
"label": "clang++ build active file",
"command": "/usr/bin/clang++",
"args": [
"-std=c++17",
"-stdlib=libc++",
"-g",
"${file}",
"-o",
"${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}"
],
"options": {
"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
},
"problemMatcher": [
"$gcc"
],
"group": "build"
},
{
"type": "cppbuild",
"label": "C/C++: clang++ build active file",
"command": "/usr/bin/clang++",
"args": [
"-fdiagnostics-color=always",
"-g",
"${file}",
"-o",
"${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}"
],
"options": {
"cwd": "${fileDirname}"
},
"problemMatcher": [
"$gcc"
],
"group": {
"kind": "build",
"isDefault": true
},
"detail": "compiler: /usr/bin/clang++"
}
]
}
int a={4}; works fine while int a={}; throws an error error: scalar initializer cannot be empty
As a person who is habituated of using braced initialisation, this issue is giving me quite some trouble. Any fix for this issue would be appreciated.