🇮🇳 India’s National AI Strategy
India’s national strategy on artificial intelligence (AI) is the pursuit of a delicate balance between fostering innovation and mitigating risk.
Over the past decade, India has made significant strides in developing and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) strategies and policies. Below is a year-by-year overview of major national AI announcements, presented from the most recent to earlier years, each accompanied by relevant links to official government announcements or reputable news sources.
2025
🇮🇳 IndiaAI Mission building National Foundational Models, 18K GPU Facility (Jan, 2025). India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology announced that the country is developing its own foundational AI model, comparable to ChatGPT, with an expected completion timeline of 10 months. To support this initiative, the government has established a compute facility equipped with 18,693 GPUs, including 12,896 Nvidia H100s and 1,480 Nvidia H200s.
2024
1. Approval of the IndiaAI Mission
In March 2024, the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the comprehensive national-level IndiaAI mission with a budget outlay of â‚ą10,371.92 crore. The mission aims to position India as a global leader in AI by fostering research, innovation, and the development of AI infrastructure.
2. Launch of the AI for India 2030 Initiative
The AI for India 2030 initiative was launched to provide a structured approach to integrating AI across the nation’s socio-economic fabric. This initiative focuses on leveraging AI to drive inclusive growth and establish global leadership in AI.
3. Increased Investment in AI Infrastructure
The government announced plans to significantly invest in AI infrastructure, including the procurement of high-performance computing resources and the establishment of AI innovation hubs across the country. This move aims to bolster AI research and development capabilities nationwide.
2022
1. Formation of the Defence AI Project Agency
The Government of India established the Defence AI Project Agency to accelerate the development and integration of AI technologies in defense systems, aiming to enhance operational capabilities and national security.
2. Release of the National Data Governance Framework Policy
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released the National Data Governance Framework Policy to ensure secure and efficient data management, facilitating AI innovation while safeguarding privacy.
3. Launch of AI Research Fellowship Programs
To promote advanced research in AI, the government launched fellowship programs encouraging scholars to undertake projects addressing national challenges through AI solutions.
2020
1. Launch of the National AI Portal (INDIAai)
On May 30, 2020, the Government of India launched INDIAai, a national AI portal developed jointly by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, National e-Governance Division, and NASSCOM. The portal serves as a one-stop platform for AI-related news, learning resources, and initiatives in India.
2. Introduction of the Responsible AI for Youth Program
In collaboration with Intel and the Ministry of Education, the government introduced the Responsible AI for Youth Program. This initiative aims to empower students with AI skills, encouraging them to create social impact solutions using AI technologies.
3. Establishment of the Nvidia AI Technology Center at IIIT Hyderabad
IIIT Hyderabad partnered with Nvidia to establish the Nvidia AI Technology Center, focusing on advancing AI research in areas like language understanding, smart cities, and agriculture.
2018
1. Release of the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence
In June 2018, NITI Aayog, India’s premier policy think tank, unveiled the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, also known as #AIForAll. This strategy outlined India’s approach to leveraging AI for inclusive growth across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities, and smart mobility.
2. Formation of the Defence AI Council
The Ministry of Defence established the Defence Artificial Intelligence Council to provide strategic direction for AI applications in defense. This move aimed to enhance national security through AI-driven solutions.
3. Initiation of AI Research Centers in Academic Institutions
Leading academic institutions, including IITs and IIITs, initiated dedicated AI research centers to foster innovation and collaboration between academia and industry.
2015
1. Establishment of FC Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems
In 2015, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) established the FC Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems at IIIT Hyderabad with an investment of â‚ą20 crore. The center focuses on research areas such as robotics, cognitive sciences, neural language processing, and intelligent systems.
2. Launch of AI Research Initiatives by IITs
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country began launching AI research initiatives, aiming to advance studies in machine learning, data analytics, and AI applications in various sectors.
3. Government’s Increased Focus on Digital India
The Government of India intensified its Digital India campaign, emphasizing the integration of AI and digital technologies to enhance public services and governance.
These strategic initiatives underscore India’s commitment to harnessing AI for national development, aiming to position the country as a leader in the global AI landscape.
