The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is underway, and India is making a bold move to develop its own sovereign AI foundation model. The IndiaAI Mission, backed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), aims to create an indigenous AI ecosystem that can cater to the nation’s unique needs. With a funding pool of ₹1,500 crore, the government is inviting startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs—techies and non-techies alike—to contribute towards this ambitious goal.
A Call for Innovation
The initiative has sparked widespread interest among India’s brightest minds. From Stanford graduate Ayush Gupta, who left Apple to launch his startup, to Gurgaon-based Sahil Gulati with expertise in B2B sales, and Patna-born engineer Aaditya Kirti, the project is attracting a diverse group of participants. Notably, even 20-somethings and individuals without technical backgrounds are exploring ways to be part of this mission.
The ministry is offering direct funding initially, with a performance-based support model in later stages. It has issued a call for proposals open until January 30, with projects running for six months before full-scale implementation. Proposals are being accepted until the 15th of every month, ensuring a continuous inflow of innovative ideas.
Objectives of IndiaAI
Develop a Uniquely Indian AI Model
Unlike Western AI models trained on global datasets, India’s AI foundation model will focus on Indian contexts, history, and policies. It will be fine-tuned with datasets from Indian websites, parliamentary records, legal documents, newspapers, government archives, and social media feeds.Societal Impact at Scale
The mission is not just about AI research—it aims to create an AI system that benefits Indian businesses, governance, healthcare, education, and other key sectors.Multimodal and Scalable Approach
The project encourages the development of both large language models (LLMs) and smaller domain-specific AI models, providing flexibility for different use cases.
Inspiration from Global AI Leaders
The IndiaAI Mission draws inspiration from China’s DeepSeek, which built an AI model on a shoestring budget of $5.6 million. India aims to achieve similar success while leveraging its vast talent pool and government-subsidized computing power.
The Road Ahead
With Genloop, a startup co-founded by Ayush Gupta, already working on an India-specific LLM, the race to build a sovereign AI model is intensifying. This initiative provides a golden opportunity for startups, researchers, and policymakers to shape India’s AI future.
With the first proposal deadline on February 15, the next few months will be crucial in determining the trajectory of India’s AI ambitions. The success of the IndiaAI Mission could position the country as a global AI leader while ensuring that AI solutions align with India’s cultural, linguistic, and regulatory framework.
Will you accept the IndiaAI Mission? The opportunity is here—it's time to innovate and contribute to India’s AI future.