India is launching a $1.24B AI mission to build one of the world’s largest compute infrastructures with 18,693 GPUs and support domestic semiconductor production. It’s also developing indigenous AI models and open data platforms to fuel innovation across sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture. With top global AI skill penetration and rapid GenAI growth, India is positioning itself as a future AI powerhouse.
BRICS bridge- India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), driven by strategic government initiatives and a vision to become a self-reliant technological powerhouse. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to bolster the country’s AI ecosystem. This includes the IndiaAI Mission, which allocates approximately $1.24B over five years to develop one of the world’s most extensive AI compute infrastructures, equipped with 18,693 GPUs. The government is also pioneering an open GPU marketplace, making high-performance computing accessible at highly subsidised rates, and plans to build five semiconductor plants to support domestic AI innovation.
To further strengthen its AI capabilities, India is focusing on open data and indigenous AI models. The IndiaAI Dataset Platform has been launched to provide startups and researchers with access to high-quality, anonymised datasets, reducing barriers to innovation. The government is also developing indigenous foundational models such as Sarvam-1, a large language model optimised for Indian languages, and BharatGen, a multimodal LLM initiative aimed at enhancing public service delivery. Additionally, the establishment of four Centres of Excellence in healthcare, agriculture, sustainable cities, and education underscores India’s commitment to leveraging AI across key sectors.
India’s AI revolution is also centred on talent development and industry growth. The country ranks first globally in AI skill penetration, according to the Stanford AI Index 2024, and plans to expand AI education across universities to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals. With 80% of Indian companies prioritising AI investments and a surge in GenAI startup funding, the AI market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25-35%. India’s pragmatic approach to AI regulation, balancing innovation and accountability, ensures that the benefits of AI reach businesses, researchers, and citizens alike, positioning the country as a leader in AI innovation.