Key facts
- India is creating a strategy to develop domestically controlled AI infrastructure.
- The initiative aims to increase AI use in governance and develop skilled talent.
- NITI Aayog is assessing the AI ecosystem to identify gaps and propose improvements.
- The plan could involve expanding the existing India AI Mission or launching a new program.
- A key driver is ensuring Indian companies can access advanced AI models, currently dominated by US firms.
The Indian government is formulating a strategy to bolster its domestic artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, with the goal of increasing AI adoption in governance and nurturing a skilled talent pool. This initiative involves targeted fiscal incentives and policy interventions.
As part of this effort, NITI Aayog has been directed to pinpoint deficiencies within the current AI ecosystem and propose measures to strengthen India's capacity for independent AI development and deployment. The recommendations from NITI Aayog could either expand the existing India AI Mission, launched in 2024 with a significant budget, or form the basis of a new, standalone initiative.
The push for domestic AI capabilities is partly driven by concerns that Indian companies are heavily reliant on US firms for access to the latest AI models, with some US companies restricting access for foreign entities.