IndiaAI Mission: Over $1 Bn Set Aside to Propel AI Innovation in the Country

The Union Cabinet has given the green light to the IndiaAI Mission, allocating a budget of  ₹10,371.92 crore (around $1.25 billion) for the purpose. Aimed at fostering a comprehensive AI ecosystem, the initiative will drive innovation through strategic programs and partnerships spanning the public and private sectors. 

“To develop the ecosystem of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a framework of India's AI mission has been prepared comprehensively. In December 2023, at the Global Partnership on AI summit which concluded in the national capital, the vision of India AI was put forth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under which, several aspects including the adoption of AI on a bigger scale, providing innovators with wider opportunities, and skill development in this field, have been included," said Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

What does this budget include?

The IndiaAI Mission includes the procurement of over 10,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) in a public-private partnership to establish a robust computing system for an advanced AI ecosystem and the creation of an AI marketplace. 

The mission, overseen by the IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC), encompasses various segments such as IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Centre, IndiaAI Datasets Platform, IndiaAI Application Development Initiative, IndiaAI FutureSkills, IndiaAI Startup Financing, and Safe & Trusted AI.

1. IndiaAI Compute Capacity: It focuses on building a scalable AI computing infrastructure, using GPUs to cater to the burgeoning demands of the country's expanding AI startups and research ecosystem. 

2. IndiaAI Innovation Centre: It will develop and deploy indigenous LLMs and foundational models with multimodal capabilities in critical sectors. 

3. IndiaAI Datasets Platform: It aims to streamline access to non-personal datasets for AI innovation, providing a unified data platform for startups and researchers.

4. IndiaAI Application Development Initiative: It is geared towards promoting AI applications in critical sectors, focusing on impactful solutions sourced from central ministries, state departments, and other institutions. 

5. IndiaAI FutureSkills: It aims to increase accessibility to AI programs, expanding courses at undergraduate, master's, and PhD levels. Additionally, Data and AI Labs will be established in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.

6. IndiaAI Startup Financing: This initiative intends to support and accelerate deep-tech AI startups, facilitating streamlined access to funding for futuristic AI projects. 

7. Safe & Trusted AI: Recognizing the importance of responsible AI development, the Safe & Trusted AI pillar will implement projects emphasizing ethical practices, self-assessment checklists, and governance frameworks.

This update comes at a time when India also released a new AI advisory stating that major Indian companies (except startups) will have to seek explicit permission from the government to build and deploy generative AI or AI models.