PrintFriendlyPM Modi’s decade-long efforts in AI, semiconductors, and deep tech are driving India towards becoming one of the top five AI nations. Modi’s vision is to democratize technology, making AI accessible to all, much like Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
India has taken a significant step towards becoming a global AI powerhouse with the launch of several groundbreaking initiatives under the IndiaAI Mission. Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, marked this milestone during the anniversary celebration of the IndiaAI Mission in New Delhi. The newly introduced programs aim to accelerate AI-driven research, innovation, and skill development, positioning India at the forefront of artificial intelligence.
IndiaAI Mission: Seven Pillars of Growth
The IndiaAI Mission, approved in March 2024, is structured around seven core pillars:
- IndiaAI Compute – Infrastructure to support AI research and development.
- IndiaAI Datasets Platform – A centralized repository for AI datasets.
- IndiaAI Application Development Initiatives – Focused on AI-driven solutions.
- IndiaAI FutureSkills – Large-scale AI skill-building programs.
- IndiaAI Innovation Center – A hub for AI research and development.
- IndiaAI Startup Financing – Financial support for AI startups.
- Safe & Trusted AI – Ensuring ethical and responsible AI development.
Empowering AI Research and Development
While speaking at the event, Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the AI Compute Portal and AIKosha Platform are monumental advancements in enabling AI research and innovation in India. The AI Compute Portal, with its vast GPU resources, will provide startups, researchers, and enterprises with affordable access to high-performance computing, a crucial requirement for AI model training and deployment.
India’s progress in AI has been remarkable, securing Rank 1 in AI skill penetration and being recognized among the Top 10 AI nations globally. India’s DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure) framework ensures ethically sourced and consent-based datasets, reducing reliance on synthetic and foreign data. This is a crucial step in fostering unbiased AI solutions and ensuring ethical AI practices in the country.
AI’s Role in Governance and Capacity Building
AI is increasingly being integrated into governance, with initiatives such as iGOT-AI Mission Karmayogi, which provides AI-driven learning recommendations for public officials. This move aims to enhance decision-making, improve public service delivery, and strengthen India’s digital transformation strategy.
Nearly 45% of the IndiaAI Mission’s funding is dedicated to this initiative. He noted that AI is a cross-cutting technology that can boost productivity and drive economic growth across government, corporate, and social sectors. Leveraging AI is crucial to achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and will require a technological leap to drive progress.
Recent Developments and Future Prospects
Recently, several initiatives under the IndiaAI Mission were launched, including a call for proposals for developing indigenous foundation models, which received 67 submissions within just 15 days. Additionally, an AI Safety Institute was established to adopt a techno-legal approach for AI governance, and eight projects were announced under the Safe & Trusted AI pillar.
These groundbreaking initiatives, emphasizing that Prime Minister Modi’s decade-long efforts in AI, semiconductors, and deep tech are driving India towards becoming one of the top five AI nations. Prime Minister’s vision is to democratize technology, making AI accessible to all, much like Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
Key Initiatives Under the IndiaAI Mission: A Deep Dive
The IndiaAI Mission is a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening India’s AI ecosystem through research, innovation, and skill development. As part of this mission, several groundbreaking initiatives have been launched, each designed to enhance AI accessibility, drive innovation, and build a future-ready workforce. Here’s a closer look at these key initiatives:
- AIKosha: IndiaAI Datasets Platform – Empowering AI Innovation in India
AIKosha: IndiaAI Datasets Platform is a centralized and secure repository designed to provide high-quality, ethically sourced, and consent-based datasets for AI research and development. Launched by Hon’ble Union Minister, this initiative aims to reduce reliance on synthetic and foreign data while fostering innovation across startups, academia, and enterprises. With over 300 datasets and 80 AI models, AIKosha plays a crucial role in enabling diverse and unbiased AI solutions. The platform not only enhances India’s AI ecosystem but also ensures that researchers and developers have seamless access to critical data resources essential for building cutting-edge AI applications.
Beyond serving as a dataset repository, AIKosha offers a comprehensive ecosystem equipped with advanced features to facilitate AI innovation. It provides an integrated development environment with AI sandbox capabilities, tools, and tutorials to support experimentation and model development. The platform ensures content discoverability and AI readiness scoring for datasets while maintaining robust security mechanisms, including data encryption at rest and in motion, secure API access, and firewalls for real-time filtering of malicious traffic. With permission-based access and a structured framework for data utilization, AIKosha stands as a transformative initiative driving India’s AI ambitions forward, fostering a secure, scalable, and innovation-driven AI landscape.
- AI Compute Portal – Democratizing High-Performance AI Computing
The AI Compute Portal is a transformative initiative designed to provide high-performance computing infrastructure at highly subsidized rates, ensuring accessibility for AI-driven research and development. With an initial capacity of 10,000 GPUs and an additional 8,693 to be added soon, the portal empowers AI projects across sectors such as healthcare, governance, and security. By democratizing access to high-end computational resources, this initiative fosters innovation among startups, researchers, academia, and enterprises. The AI Compute Portal serves as a game-changer for India’s AI ecosystem, enabling cutting-edge research and accelerating AI adoption across industries.
To facilitate seamless AI development, IndiaAI had earlier invited applications through a Request for Empanelment (RFE) for AI services on the cloud. This competitive bidding process saw participation from 19 bidders, offering a diverse range of AI services, including GPUs and AI platforms. After rigorous technical evaluation, 10 bidders were shortlisted for the commercial bid opening. The AI Compute Portal, launched by the Hon’ble Union Minister, ensures equitable access to computational resources by offering AI compute, network, storage, and cloud services at discounted rates. It supports access to high-end and mid-range GPUs such as NVIDIA H100, H200, A100, L40S, and L4, along with AMD MI300x, 325X, Intel Gaudi 2, AWS Tranium, and Inferentia. Eligible AI users, including startups, MSMEs, researchers, PhD scholars, and government agencies, will receive up to a 40% subsidy on AI compute services, ensuring cost-effective AI development capabilities. With the RFE for continuous empanelment of agencies now live, this initiative marks a significant step in strengthening India’s AI infrastructure and fostering a robust innovation-driven ecosystem.
- AI Competency Framework for Public Sector Officials – Building AI-Driven Governance
The AI Competency Framework for Public Sector Officials is a structured initiative aimed at enhancing AI literacy and integration within government administration. By equipping policymakers with AI-driven decision-making skills, the framework promotes data-driven governance, ensuring more efficient and responsive public service delivery. AI-powered solutions have the potential to transform various aspects of governance, from policy formulation to citizen engagement, and this initiative seeks to empower government officials with the necessary expertise to leverage AI effectively.
Recognizing the growing role of AI in governance, the AI Competency Framework was officially released to establish a standardized approach to AI education and training for public sector officials. The framework includes AI competency mapping and upskilling initiatives aligned with global best practices, ensuring informed AI policymaking and effective implementation. By fostering AI awareness, knowledge, and skill development, this initiative strengthens India’s public sector institutions, enabling them to harness AI for better decision-making, enhanced service delivery, and improved policy outcomes.
- iGOT-AI Mission Karmayogi – AI-Driven Learning for Public Officials
The iGOT-AI Mission Karmayogi is an advanced AI-powered learning platform designed to enhance the skills and decision-making capabilities of government officials. As part of the broader Mission Karmayogi initiative, this platform leverages artificial intelligence to provide personalized learning recommendations, enabling public servants to acquire knowledge relevant to their roles. By integrating AI-driven tools, the initiative aims to strengthen governance efficiency, streamline administrative processes, and ensure data-backed policymaking.
This AI-enabled system enhances the learning experience by tailoring content recommendations based on individual learning patterns and professional requirements. With its intelligent course suggestions and adaptive learning mechanisms, the iGOT-AI Mission Karmayogi ensures that government officials stay updated with emerging technologies, policies, and governance strategies. This initiative marks a significant step in modernizing public administration through AI, fostering a more informed and capable bureaucracy.
- IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Program with Station F
The IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Program, launched in collaboration with Station F—one of the world’s largest startup incubators based in France—aims to provide Indian AI startups with international exposure. This initiative supports startups through mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities, helping them establish a strong presence in the global AI ecosystem. By fostering cross-border collaboration, the program enhances India’s standing as a hub for AI-driven innovation, enabling Indian startups to compete on a global scale.
In partnership with Station F and HEC Paris, the IndiaAI Mission will conduct a four-month acceleration program designed to propel Indian AI startups into European markets. The program consists of one month of online training followed by a three-month immersive experience at Station F in Paris. Ten selected AI startups will gain access to expert mentorship, strategic networking, and resources essential for scaling their businesses internationally. The initiative was officially announced at the event, along with an open call for applications, reinforcing India’s commitment to advancing AI entrepreneurship on a global stage.
- IndiaAI Application Development Initiative
The IndiaAI Application Development Initiative (IADI) is a strategic effort to drive AI-driven innovations across critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, governance, and disaster management. By bridging the gap between AI research and real-world implementation, this initiative fosters the creation of impactful AI solutions that address pressing societal challenges. It supports the development, scaling, and adoption of AI technologies that enhance efficiency, improve public services, and contribute to large-scale socio-economic transformation.
As part of this initiative, the IndiaAI Innovation Challenge was launched to identify and promote groundbreaking AI applications. Over 900 AI solutions were submitted, targeting key areas like healthcare advancements, climate change mitigation, disaster response, governance enhancements, agricultural productivity, and learning disability support. Following a rigorous evaluation, 30 AI solutions have been shortlisted for further development, categorized under three stages of maturity—Idea, Prototype, and Existing Solutions. This initiative underscores India’s commitment to harnessing AI for social good, fostering innovation, and accelerating the adoption of AI technologies across industries.
- IndiaAI FutureSkills
The IndiaAI FutureSkills initiative is a large-scale skill development program designed to equip professionals and students with AI expertise, ensuring India’s competitiveness in the global AI landscape. It focuses on training individuals in advanced fields such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, fostering a future-ready workforce. By expanding AI education across undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. programs, the initiative aims to bridge the skill gap and enable wider participation in AI-driven opportunities.
A key component of this initiative is the IndiaAI FutureSkills Fellowship, which provides financial and academic support to students excelling in AI research and projects. Fellowship recipients from centrally funded institutes like IITs, NITs, and IIITs, as well as other government and private institutions, have demonstrated innovative AI applications and shared their experiences on how the fellowship has propelled their research. Through structured training programs and fellowships, IndiaAI FutureSkills is actively nurturing the next generation of AI professionals, ensuring India’s leadership in AI innovation and development.
A Transformative Future for AI in India
With visionary policies, strategic investments, and global collaborations, India is rapidly emerging as a leader in AI and digital transformation. The IndiaAI Mission is set to revolutionize AI research, governance, and innovation, fostering an inclusive and responsible AI ecosystem. As India strides towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, these initiatives will play a crucial role in defining the nation’s technological future, ensuring AI serves both its citizens and the economy effectively.
The coming decade will be critical in shaping India’s position as a global AI leader, setting a benchmark for digital transformation worldwide. With the IndiaAI Mission as a catalyst, India is well on its way to establishing itself as a digital powerhouse on the global stage.
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