Transforming India with AI: ₹10300 Crore IndiaAI Mission Powers Nation’s Inclusive Digital Future
Approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024 and implemented by IndiaAI under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the IndiaAI Mission is guided by the vision of “Making AI in India and Making AI Work for India.”
New Delhi, October 13: India is entering a new era of digital transformation powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the government committing an investment of over ₹10,300 crore under the IndiaAI Mission to expand access to computing power, foster innovation, and build an inclusive AI ecosystem. With 38,000 GPUs already deployed nationwide, the initiative is positioning India among the world’s top AI-enabled economies, driving innovation across healthcare, agriculture, governance, education, and climate services. The technology and AI ecosystem currently employs over six million people, and the sector is projected to surpass $280 billion in annual revenue this year. Experts estimate that AI could add $1.7 trillion to India’s GDP by 2035, according to a Union government statement released on Sunday.
Approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024 and implemented by IndiaAI under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the IndiaAI Mission is guided by the vision of “Making AI in India and Making AI Work for India.” It is designed to create a robust AI framework that integrates innovation, computing power, and responsible use of technology. The Mission provides affordable GPU access through its compute pillar, where 38,000 GPUs are available at a subsidised rate of ₹65 per hour, making world-class computing resources accessible to startups, researchers, and enterprises. The Application Development Initiative focuses on India-specific challenges across healthcare, agriculture, climate change, and governance, while AIKosh, the national dataset platform, hosts over 3,000 datasets and 243 AI models across 20 sectors, enabling developers to focus on creating scalable AI solutions.
The Mission’s foundation model programme supports the development of indigenous large multimodal models using Indian data and languages, ensuring sovereign capability in generative AI. Four startups—Sarvam AI, Soket AI, Gnani AI, and Gan AI—have been selected under this pillar. The FutureSkills programme aims to build a skilled AI workforce by supporting 13,500 students, including 500 PhD researchers, 5,000 postgraduates, and 8,000 undergraduates. In collaboration with institutes and training centres, AI and Data Labs are being set up in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to expand access to technical education. The Startup Financing pillar offers global expansion opportunities through the IndiaAI Startups Global Programme launched in partnership with Station F and HEC Paris. Meanwhile, the Safe and Trusted AI pillar focuses on responsible AI deployment through projects on bias mitigation, privacy, explainability, and governance.
Complementing these national efforts are platforms such as Bhashini, India’s multilingual AI initiative that bridges language barriers through speech and translation tools, and BharatGen AI, the first government-funded multilingual large language model that supports 22 Indian languages and integrates text, speech, and image understanding. The Digital ShramSetu Mission, another key initiative, focuses on empowering India’s 490 million informal workers through frontier technologies like AI, IoT, and blockchain to enhance access to skills, financial inclusion, and livelihoods.
To showcase India’s growing AI capabilities, the government will host the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in February next year. The summit will include the AI Pitch Fest (UDAAN) for global startups, a research symposium for scholars from India and abroad, and an AI Expo featuring over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries. It will also highlight India’s foundational model initiatives, the AI Data Labs network, and the expansion of the IndiaAI Fellowship Program that now supports 13,500 scholars across disciplines such as engineering, medicine, law, and liberal arts.
Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming part of everyday life in India. It is helping doctors diagnose diseases faster, assisting farmers in predicting weather and managing crops, improving classroom learning outcomes, and enhancing governance through data-driven decision-making. AI-powered systems are already being used by the India Meteorological Department to forecast rainfall, lightning, and cyclones, and new tools like MausamGPT will soon provide real-time climate information to farmers and disaster agencies. The education sector is integrating AI into the curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, while the CBSE now offers AI modules for school students. Initiatives such as YUVAi: Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI are equipping students from classes 8 to 12 with the skills to develop AI-based solutions for real-world challenges.
To ensure that the workforce remains future-ready, the MeitY-backed FutureSkills PRIME programme has enrolled over 18.5 lakh professionals for reskilling in emerging technologies, including 3.37 lakh who have successfully completed AI and Big Data Analytics courses. Platforms like Bhashini have crossed one million downloads and continue to promote digital inclusion by supporting 20 Indian languages and over 350 AI models.
India’s approach to AI is both people-centric and globally competitive, focusing on technological advancement that uplifts society and creates equitable opportunities. By combining policy, infrastructure, and capacity-building, the government aims to make AI open, affordable, and accessible to every citizen. Through initiatives like IndiaAI, BharatGen, and Digital ShramSetu, the country is building a foundation for sustainable innovation that bridges divides, empowers communities, and strengthens the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The official release concludes that India’s journey in Artificial Intelligence reflects a clear vision and decisive action. From expanding computing infrastructure and fostering homegrown AI models to empowering startups and ensuring responsible use, the country is laying the groundwork to emerge as a global leader in AI while ensuring that technology serves every citizen and drives inclusive growth.
