India is taking a major stride in Artificial Intelligence by creating a world-class AI infrastructure and a robust ecosystem for start-ups and innovators. Initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission and the establishment of Centres of Excellence for AI are strengthening the country’s Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, paving the way for innovation and self-reliance. These efforts align with the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, leveraging cutting-edge technology for economic growth, governance, and societal progress.
With the approval of the IndiaAI Mission in 2024, the government allocated 10,300 crore rupees over five years to strengthen AI capabilities. A key focus of this mission is the development of a high-end common computing facility equipped with 18,693 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), making it one of the most extensive AI compute infrastructures globally.
The government has selected 10 companies to supply the GPUs, ensuring a robust and diversified supply chain. India is also aiming to develop its own GPU within the next three to five years, reducing reliance on imported technology. The country is also advancing semiconductor manufacturing, with five semiconductor plants under construction.
Recognizing the importance of data in AI development, the Modi government has launched the IndiaAI Dataset Platform to provide seamless access to high-quality datasets.
The government has established three AI Centres of Excellence in Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities in New Delhi. In this year’s Budget, the government announced the setup of a new Centre of Excellence for AI in education, with an outlay of 500 crore rupees. The government is facilitating the development of the country’s own foundational models, including Large Language Models and problem-specific AI solutions tailored to Indian needs. The world’s first government-funded multimodal LLM initiative, BharatGen, was launched last year in Delhi. It aims to enhance public service delivery and citizen engagement through foundational models in language, speech, and computer vision.
The India Skills Report 2024 by Wheebox forecasts that the country’s AI industry will reach 28.8 billion US dollars by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 45 percent. The AI-skilled workforce has witnessed massive growth from 2016 to 2023, making India one of the top five fastest-growing AI talent hubs, alongside Singapore, Finland, Ireland, and Canada.
