Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) will be accessible on the IndiaAI compute portal for as low as Rs 67 per hour. This initiative, part of the IndiaAI mission’s first anniversary, aims to democratise AI access and foster innovation. The portal will offer over 18,000 GPUs, cloud storage, and AI services to students, startups, researchers, academia, and government departments.

The IndiaAI compute portal is a significant component of the mission, with nearly 45% of its funds allocated to this area. MeitY Secretary S Krishnan highlighted that this launch will transform AI implementation across India. The mission, approved by the cabinet in March last year with a budget of Rs 10,371.92 crore, seeks to create a comprehensive AI ecosystem through public-private partnerships.

India’s Ambitious AI Plans

Vaishnaw shared that India’s own foundational model is progressing well, with 67 applications received for its creation. Of these applications, 22 are for Large Language Models (LLMs). The government is also engaging experts to develop indigenous chipsets, which could significantly impact the country’s technological landscape.

The minister expressed confidence that within three to four years, India will have its own GPUs competing globally. He envisions India becoming one of the top five technology nations worldwide. Available GPUs on the platform include AMD 300X, AMD 325X, NVIDIA H200, NVIDIA H100, AWS Trainium and Inferentia, and NVIDIA GeForce.

AIKosha Dataset Platform

The ministry introduced AIKosha, a comprehensive dataset platform offering compute resources, datasets, tools, and a secure sandbox environment for researchers and entrepreneurs. High-quality datasets from various ministries will be available for developers to create India-specific AI models.

Vaishnaw mentioned that the government is establishing 27 India AI data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Additionally, over a million civil servants have registered for training courses to enhance their skills and potential. Foundational courses in data and AI are being developed for 10th and 12th-grade students to prepare them for the future.

Training and Development Initiatives

More than 150 universities will receive the latest foundational tools by next year for AI research. Vaishnaw believes that in five years, India will become a major player in deep-tech. The Competency Framework for AI was also launched to equip public sector officials with structured learning pathways and competency benchmarks.

This framework aims to provide a foundational understanding of AI and identify opportunities for integration into policymaking and regulatory oversight. It also focuses on developing targeted training and capacity-building programmes for public sector officials.

The minister recognised 30 startups shortlisted for the next stage of the IndiaAI Innovation Challenge. Students participating in the India AI Fellowship programme were also awarded for their contributions.