India’s AI Revolution: A Roadmap to Technological Self-Reliance
India is undergoing a transformative shift in artificial intelligence, driven by visionary policies and strategic investments. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the government is fostering a robust AI ecosystem, making computing power, research opportunities, and GPUs accessible at an affordable cost. Unlike past scenarios dominated by global tech giants, India is now ensuring equitable access to AI resources for students, startups, and innovators.
Scaling AI Compute & Semiconductor Infrastructure
The IndiaAI Mission, launched in 2024 with a ₹10,300 crore budget, is a major step in strengthening AI capabilities. Key developments include:
- High-Performance AI Compute Facility: Equipped with 18,693 GPUs, among the largest AI compute infrastructures globally.
- Affordable GPU Access: Researchers and startups can use GPUs at just ₹100 per hour, significantly lower than global rates.
- Indigenous GPU Development: India aims to develop its own GPUs within five years to reduce reliance on imports.
- Strengthening Semiconductor Manufacturing: Five semiconductor fabs are under development to support AI and electronics innovation.
Expanding AI Research & Open Data Initiatives
To foster AI research, the government has launched the IndiaAI Dataset Platform, providing high-quality, anonymized datasets for startups and researchers. Additionally, four Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in AI have been set up, focusing on healthcare, agriculture, smart cities, and education.
India’s AI Models & Language Technologies
The government is supporting the development of foundational AI models tailored to Indian needs, including:
- BharatGen: The first government-backed multimodal LLM for AI-driven governance.
- Digital India BHASHINI: AI-powered language translation platform enabling seamless access to digital services.
- Sarvam-1: India’s first AI model with 2 billion parameters, supporting multiple Indian languages.
AI Integration with Digital Public Infrastructure
India is integrating AI with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), enhancing governance and public services. AI solutions played a crucial role in Mahakumbh 2025, optimizing crowd management and providing multilingual chatbot support.
AI Talent & Workforce Growth
India ranks #1 globally in AI skill penetration (Stanford AI Index 2024). With AI-driven skilling programs and new university curricula, India is creating a future-ready workforce to support its AI ambitions.
AI Adoption & Industry Growth
India’s Generative AI startup funding surged 6x in Q2FY25, highlighting rapid AI adoption. The AI market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25-35%, reinforcing India’s leadership in AI innovation.
Source: PIB
