In the Union Budget 2025, tabled in Parliament on Saturday, February 1, the IndiaAI Mission’s outlay increased from ₹551.75 crore in last year’s Budget to ₹2,000 crore — a jump of 262%.
This illustrates the government’s outlook on this rapidly evolving technology, which went from a fad in 2023 to a sovereign necessity over the past few weeks, especially this month.
Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India & South Asia, said “It’s heartening to see the government’s vision of building Viksit Bharat by 2047 with AI and technology … India must capitalise on AI opportunities and leverage its young and dynamic population to create a tech-forward workforce for India and for the world. This resonates deeply with Microsoft’s work in the country and our commitment to put AI in the hands of everyone.”
Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw already announced this week that India will roll out its first foundational AI model in 10 months. A foundational model refers to an AI solution that can be tailored to suit users’ needs — especially enterprise users — much like an Application Programming Interface (API) in coding. In simple terms, a foundational model is a large-scale, adaptable AI model.
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Examples of foundational models include large language models, and other models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and DeepSeek’s V3 models.
The primary objective of the IndiaAI Mission is to harness the power of AI to drive economic growth, enhance public services, and improve the quality of life for citizens.
Key Objectives
1. Research and Development: The mission promotes cutting-edge research in AI technologies, encouraging collaboration between academia, industry, and government institutions.
2. Skill Development: By focusing on education and training, the initiative aims to equip the workforce with necessary AI skills, ensuring that India has a robust talent pool to meet the demands of the evolving job market.
3. Sectoral Applications: IndiaAI Mission targets various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and education, to implement AI-driven solutions that address pressing challenges and improve efficiency.
4. Policy Framework: The mission advocates for a comprehensive policy framework to create a conducive environment for AI innovation, including data governance, ethical considerations, and regulatory measures.
The IndiaAI Mission aspires to not only boost India’s economy but also to ensure inclusive growth by leveraging AI technologies for social good. By fostering a vibrant AI ecosystem, the initiative aims to enhance India’s competitiveness on the global stage and contribute to sustainable development goals.
Also read: Budget 2025 | Seven-fold jump in budget allocation for quantum mission
First Published: Feb 1, 2025 4:59 PM IST