New Delhi, January 30, 2025: India is set to launch its own secure and cost-effective indigenous AI model, announced Union Minister for Electronics & IT, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, at Electronics Niketan, New Delhi. The initiative aims to position India as a trusted global AI leader, offering ethical AI solutions tailored to the country’s linguistic and technological needs.
Affordable AI Computing for All
India’s AI model will provide a high-performance computing facility at an exceptionally low cost. With government subsidies covering 40% of expenses, users will be able to access AI computing power for less than ₹100 per hour, significantly undercutting global models that cost $2.5–$3 per hour. Flexible half-yearly and annual subscription plans will further enhance affordability.
Robust Computing Infrastructure
The initiative has successfully built a cutting-edge common computing facility comprising 18,693 GPUs, including 12,896 H100 units, 1,480 H200 units, and 7,200 MI 200 300 units. This infrastructure exceeds initial targets and is poised to support extensive AI research and development. For comparison, Open Source Model DeepSeek was trained on 2,000 GPUs, while ChatGPT utilized 25,000 GPUs.
AI Applications for Public Benefit
The India AI Mission is focused on 18 citizen-centric applications, particularly in agriculture, healthcare, climate change, and learning disability solutions. These applications aim to harness AI’s potential for societal and industrial benefits.
AI Safety and Ethical Development
To ensure ethical deployment, the government is establishing an AI Safety Institute, adopting a techno-legal approach. Several key safety initiatives are underway, including:
- Machine Unlearning (IIT Jodhpur)
- Synthetic Data Generation (IIT Roorkee)
- AI Bias Mitigation Strategy (NIT Raipur)
- Explainable AI Framework (DIAT Pune & Minecraft Technologies)
- Privacy Enhancing Strategies (IIT Delhi, IIIT Delhi, IIT Dharwad & TEC)
- AI Ethical Certification Framework (IIIT Delhi & TEC)
- AI Algorithm Auditing Framework (Civic Data Labs)
- AI Governance Testing Framework (Amrita Vidyapeetham & TEC)
Additionally, advanced AI safety projects such as deep fake detection, real-time risk management, and AI watermarking are being developed to strengthen security and data privacy.
Also Read: The Rise of AI Tools: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping Our Daily Lives
Future Roadmap and Global Recognition
India’s AI mission is designed with a four-year roadmap for sustainability. The country’s broader semiconductor initiatives, backed by over $30 billion in investments, complement the AI mission’s long-term vision. International recognition at global forums like Davos has cemented India’s standing as an emerging AI powerhouse.
The AI model will support industrial applications beyond conventional chatbots, with capabilities in optimizing railway ticketing, monitoring soil health, predicting weather patterns, and enhancing oil drilling efficiency. With over 240 universities offering AI courses and 100 institutions equipped with 5G labs, India is poised to lead the AI revolution.
Conclusion
By prioritizing affordability, inclusivity, and ethical AI development, India’s indigenous AI model is set to revolutionize computing access for researchers, developers, and enterprises, solidifying the nation’s role as a global AI leader.
Source: PIB