India is making significant strides toward developing its own large language model (LLM), with the government allocating ₹10,000 crore under its AI mission. This initiative positions India alongside global leaders such as the United States and China in artificial intelligence innovation.
Government’s Push for AI Innovation
A large language model (LLM) is an advanced AI system designed to understand, generate, and process human language. Speaking on the initiative, Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Electronics & IT, Commerce and Industry, emphasized the importance of this mission for India’s technological growth.
“We have secured GPUs, which are essential for LLM development. These resources will be made available at a low cost to scientists and students, enabling India to build its own LLM foundation model,” Prasada stated.
The Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) had earlier announced that India’s AI model would begin with a computation facility of 10,000 GPUs, with an additional 8,693 GPUs to be added soon. The initiative aims to provide an affordable AI computation ecosystem, bringing down costs to less than ₹100 per hour, thanks to a 40% government subsidy. In contrast, global models incur computation costs of $2.5 to $3 per hour.
Boosting India’s AI and Tech Ecosystem
The minister was in Kolkata on Wednesday to inaugurate the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) incubation facility, which will support young entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small tech companies. The 2 lakh square feet hub will provide plug-and-play IT infrastructure, fostering innovation and technology-driven entrepreneurship.
Arvind Kumar, Director-General of STPI, highlighted that the facility would nurture Bengal’s start-up ecosystem, encourage intellectual property creation, and boost software exports from the state.
Additionally, semiconductor giant GlobalFoundries is exploring the establishment of a Gallium Nitride (GaN) Power Centre at the STPI incubation hub. Jitendra Chaddah, Managing Director and Country Head of GlobalFoundries Engineering Pvt. Ltd., confirmed this interest, which could further elevate India’s semiconductor and AI ambitions.
Also read: Google Unveils AI Co-Scientist for Researchers
Positioning India as an AI Powerhouse
With a strong government push, access to critical computing resources, and a growing innovation ecosystem, India is set to develop its own indigenous LLM in the near future. The initiative not only strengthens India’s AI capabilities but also ensures that the country remains competitive in the global AI race.
