IndiaAI Mission Sees Surge in Large Language Model Proposals as Nation Invests in Sovereign AI Development

India AI Mission: Focus on Large Language Models Gains Momentum

India is accelerating its efforts to become a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), with a strong emphasis on developing large language models (LLMs). Out of 506 proposals received under the India AI Mission for foundational AI models, 43 specifically target LLM development. This highlights the country's strategic push for sovereign and culturally relevant AI solutions.

Sunil Gupta, CEO of Yotta Data Services, shared insights at the AI for India Summit 2025 in Bengaluru, noting the significant demand for GPU resources among these proposals. Each LLM project requests more than 2,000 GPUs, a sharp increase from just 18 months ago when India debated the need for 1,000 GPUs in total. Currently, at least 47 foundation model proposals require 2,000 or more GPUs, indicating strong confidence in the mission’s ability to supply Nvidia Blackwell GPUs as part of its GPU tender program.

Government Support for AI Startups

The government is actively supporting startups such as Sarvam, Gnani, Gan, and Soket AI Labs through investment capital and resource access. Several other applicants focused on LLMs, including conversational AI startup CoRover.ai, a consortium of Indian professors abroad, and an agricultural research university, are expected to receive GPU access or grants soon.

Currently, the India AI Mission has installed 17,374 GPUs out of a proposed capacity of 34,333. This GPU capacity supports the creation of indigenous foundational models that address both data sovereignty concerns and the need for AI systems tailored to India's diverse cultural and linguistic landscape.

Scaling AI Use Cases for India

Gupta pointed out the rapid increase in inference scale, citing Bhashani's growth from approximately two million to 16 million inferencing operations per day. While government grants and private equity fund much of this development, the goal remains to build large-scale AI models that serve India's unique requirements.

This initiative is expected to expand AI applications across sectors, especially where inference at a population scale is critical. The focus on locally developed LLMs ensures that AI technologies align closely with India’s social, economic, and linguistic diversity.

• 43 out of 506 foundational AI proposals focus on LLMs.
• Each LLM proposal requests more than 2,000 GPUs.
• Government supports startups with capital and GPU access.
• Installed GPU capacity currently stands at 17,374, with plans to reach 34,333.
• Emphasis on sovereign AI that respects data privacy and cultural relevance.

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