India Government Calls on Top Indian-Origin AI Experts to Return

In a bold move to reverse the AI brain drain, the Indian government is actively encouraging Indian-origin AI experts to return and contribute to the nation’s AI ecosystem. This initiative comes at a time when China’s DeepSeek has disrupted the AI landscape with its cost-effective AI assistant, posing a challenge to U.S. AI giants that have invested billions in cutting-edge AI models.

President Droupadi Murmu, in her Parliament address, emphasized India’s commitment to AI-led research and development, reinforcing the government’s ambition to position India as a global innovation powerhouse. With the upcoming human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan, India is showcasing its ability to develop indigenous advanced technologies, an effort now extending into AI.

To support this push, the India AI Compute Facility has secured 18,693 GPUs, significantly more than the initially planned 10,000 GPUs, through competitive bidding. These include 12,896 Nvidia H100 GPUs, 1,480 Nvidia H200 GPUs, and high-performance AI chips from AMD, Intel, and AWS.

Indian startups and researchers can apply for GPU access through a government portal, with L1 and L2 bidders such as Jio Platforms, Tata Communications, and Yotta Data Services providing resources. A  tiered approval system ensures efficient allocation and prevents misuse.

The government is facilitating AI talent returning from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Mistral AI, and Perplexity AI by offering infrastructure, mentorship, and startup support. Experts warn that failing to develop a foundational LLM could be a strategic mistake, limiting India's influence in global AI development.

With a structured approval system and a robust AI ecosystem, India is making a decisive bet on AI sovereignty, aiming to rival global players and establish itself as a leading force in artificial intelligence.