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The Indian government’s recent approval of over Rs 10,300 crore (approximately US$1.34 billion) for the IndiaAI Mission marks a significant stride towards fortifying the nation’s artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. This substantial financial infusion, designated over the next five years, underscores the government’s commitment to nurturing indigenous AI innovation and propelling India to the forefront of global AI leadership.
The approval signifies a strategic investment in India’s digital future, with a focus on empowering AI startups and expanding access to cutting-edge computing infrastructure. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar lauded the decision, highlighting its potential to catalyse India’s economic growth and position the nation as a pivotal player in shaping the trajectory of AI development worldwide.
The IndiaAI Mission encompasses a comprehensive suite of initiatives aimed at bolstering various facets of the AI ecosystem. At the heart of this endeavour lies the IndiaAI Compute Capacity, a visionary initiative aimed at erecting a state-of-the-art AI computing infrastructure.
With plans to deploy over 10,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) through strategic public-private collaborations, this initiative seeks to democratise computing access and cater to the burgeoning demands of India’s AI startups and research community.
Furthermore, the IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC) is poised to emerge as a leading academic institution, driving the development and deployment of indigenous AI capabilities. Through strategic partnerships and research collaborations, IAIC will spearhead the creation of indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational models, leveraging edge and distributed computing for optimal efficiency.
Another pivotal component of the IndiaAI Mission is the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, aimed at enhancing the accessibility, quality, and utility of public sector datasets. By streamlining access to non-personal datasets, this platform seeks to foster data-driven governance and catalyse AI-based innovation and research across diverse sectors.
Simultaneously, the IndiaAI FutureSkills program is poised to revolutionise AI education by expanding the accessibility of graduate and post-graduate AI programs. With plans to establish Data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India, this initiative aims to impart foundational-level courses in Data and AI, ensuring widespread dissemination of AI knowledge and skills.
In addition to fostering innovation and research, the IndiaAI Mission prioritises the growth and sustainability of AI startups through the IndiaAI Startup Financing mechanism. By streamlining access to funding and providing risk capital, this initiative aims to accelerate the development and commercialisation of futuristic AI projects, thereby bolstering India’s position as a global hub for AI innovation.
Moreover, the IndiaAI Mission underscores the importance of responsible AI deployment through the Safe & Trusted AI pillar. With a focus on advancing ethical AI frameworks and governance mechanisms, this initiative seeks to ensure the responsible development, deployment, and adoption of AI technologies, safeguarding against potential risks and vulnerabilities.
India has embarked on a multifaceted journey to deploy AI across various fields and sectors, emphasising safety and inclusivity in its implementation to foster holistic societal advancement.
The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) recently partnered to drive innovation in Trustworthy and Responsible Artificial Intelligence Systems. Serving as India’s recognised Standards Setting Organisation (SSO) in the telecom and ICT sector, TEC is pioneering standards to ensure fairness in AI/Machine Learning systems, recently introducing Standard No. TEC 57050:2023 for “Fairness Assessment and Rating of Artificial Intelligence Systems”, following extensive stakeholder consultations and expert inputs.
The approval of over Rs 10,300 crore for the IndiaAI Mission represents a watershed moment in India’s journey towards AI leadership. By investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, fostering indigenous innovation, and prioritising responsible AI deployment, the government aims to propel India to the forefront of global AI innovation, harnessing the transformative power of AI for social good and economic prosperity.
