India ramps up AI innovation with 12 firms building foundation models on affordable GPU access

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has made over 38,000 GPUs available to developers at a subsidized ₹65/hour, aiming to democratize AI development and boost self-reliant innovation in India

India is witnessing a significant acceleration in its artificial intelligence capabilities, with 12 Indian companies now actively developing foundational AI models, supported by a robust GPU infrastructure made available under the Government of India’s IndiaAI Mission.

According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), over 38,000 GPUs are currently accessible to developers and enterprises at a highly subsidized rate of ₹65 per hour. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to democratize AI development and reduce dependency on foreign systems by enabling homegrown innovation.

Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary at MeitY and CEO of IndiaAI, shared the update during the Pre-Summit events held at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. “With affordable compute, a growing ecosystem, and 12 Indian companies now building foundational models, we are on track to launch an indigenous Large Language Model (LLM) by the end of this year,” Singh said.

Laying the groundwork for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

These updates were part of high-level dialogues leading up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February next year at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Hosted by MeitY, the pre-summit events convened stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and international bodies to discuss how AI can drive inclusive growth, digital innovation, and societal transformation.

The panels explored critical themes, including AI in telecom, workforce readiness, and the development of trustworthy AI systems. Speakers emphasized the importance of frugal innovation, equitable access, and India’s leadership in building responsible AI models for the Global South.

Kavita Bhatia, COO of the IndiaAI Mission, highlighted AI’s role in transforming services—ranging from rural connectivity and predictive maintenance to customer engagement and fraud detection.

Recognizing its contributions, the MeitY Pavilion at IMC 2025 was awarded Best Exhibitor – Government, further underlining India's growing influence in the global AI arena.