The seven Meity convened working groups which brainstormed on the India AI strategy came up with comprehensive AI policy recommendations which were approved by the Union cabinet on March 7th, 2024. This calls for a Rs 10372 crore investment for AI initiatives in the following main areas :-
- IndiaAI Future Labs Compute1:
Funding computing infrastructure and AI chips (GPUs, FPGA and ASICS) through a collaborative approach through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Indian government would create a computing infrastructure of 24,500 graphics processing units (GPU) at 17 centres to enable innovation in the emerging tech area in the country by startups and academia. Under the proposal, about 14,500 GPUs have been recommended for training AI models and high-performance storage, while the rest 10,000 are for AI inferencing. A GPU centre is a group of computers with GPUs on each node to train neural networks for image and video processing.
- Creation of a marketplaces for AI as a service2:
To enhance AI accessibility, AI marketplaces will be leveraged to build service models for AI as a Service (AIaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS), offering pre-trained models to users. Open-source AI frameworks and libraries, supported by diverse vendors and communities, will be utilized to promote vendor-agnostic AI development, fostering innovation and collaboration.
- Capital for funding startups and boosting innovation2:
Design funding mechanisms for AI startups to enhance AI innovation in India. The vision is to build the next 100 AI unicorns in the country through the India AI program. Build communities and eco-system with R&D, collaboration with Government agencies, CoEs, access to funding mechanisms, and state of the art technology infrastructure.
- India Data set platform and Datasets Program2:
Non personal data platform (unified data platform will be developed to provide a one stop solution for seamless access to non-personal datasets to Indian startups and researchers. This will be offered as Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) architecture.
- Future skills in education and updating knowledge of teachers2:
Emphasizes an AI Research based model curriculum framework involving K12 interventions and Graduate/Post Graduate level interventions. To realize the vision of “Make AI in India” & to keep pace with AI advancements, the Indian workforce must have the requisite skillsets.
- Establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs)2:
CoE’s will strive to leverage India’s distinct strengths in AI to tackle critical problems of society. The CoEs created and proposed will lay special emphasis, not just on the foundational & multidisciplinary research in AI but also on the development and adoption of indigenous AI technologies at the national and international levels.
- National Data Management Office (NDMO)2:
The National Data Governance Policy provides an institutional framework for governing data collection, management, processing, storage, and accessing processes and systems by the NDMO.
- Semiconductor IndiaAI Chipsets2:
Assess technical capabilities, latency, and specifications, detail the scalability and flexibility of the infrastructure to meet evolving needs and elaborate on the pricing models (including applicability, eligibility for subsidy (if any), etc.). The FutureDesign Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme aims to offer financial incentives as well as design infrastructure support to domestic companies and start-ups/ MSMEs across various stages of design, development, and deployment of semiconductor design(s) for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores for AI over a period of 5 years.
Budget FY 2025-2026 initiatives announced on 01 Feb 2025
- New Deep Tech Fund of Funds – Government has announced that it will explore a dedicated fund of funds (FoF) for the next-generation startups. Rs 10000 crore DeepTech FoF, aimed at accelerating advancements in critical technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductor research has been announced. Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) for startups have received commitments of more than Rs 291,000 crore.
- Rs 20,000-crore investment to drive private sector-led research, development and innovation.
- 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in Government schools in the next 5 years to cultivate the spirit of curiosity, innovation and scientific temper in young minds.
- Rs 500 crores for AI in Education Centre of Excellence (CoE). CoEs in Agriculture, healthcare, sustainable cities have already been announced earlier.
- National Centers for excellence in skilling.
- 10000 fellowships in IITs and IISc to build requisite technical capabilities.
References:
- https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/decoding-indiaai-inside-indias-rs-10372-crore-plan-to-boost-ai-infrastructure-12423821.html
- IndiaAI Expert Group Report First Edition