India Launches AI PhD Programme, Deploys 34,000 GPUs

Imagine a future where India's villages use AI to predict crop patterns, students in small towns build cutting-edge AI solutions, and startups develop indigenous AI models that challenge global tech giants. That future isn’t far—it’s already being built.

At the heart of this transformation is India’s determined push to become a global leader in Artificial Intelligence. From deploying one of the largest GPU infrastructures to launching a dedicated PhD programme for fundamental AI research, the Indian government has made it clear: India is not just participating in the AI race—it wants to lead it.

And that vision was made even more evident when Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, recently outlined bold new steps under the IndiaAI Mission.

India to Launch PhD Programme for AI Research

In a move that’s expected to shape the future of India’s AI ecosystem, the government is now building a dedicated PhD programme under the IndiaAI Mission. The focus? Not just applied AI, but basic and fundamental research—the very building blocks of innovation.

“It will really bring new opportunities for us and for the IT industry, which will go through a major transition period,” the minister said while speaking at an AI-focused event.

This is a crucial step. For years, India has produced some of the best software engineers in the world, but much of the deep-tech, core-level AI research has been limited to a few institutions. By creating a structured PhD programme, the country aims to nurture homegrown talent that can contribute to global AI advancements from Indian soil.

The programme is expected to not only boost research but also fuel innovation within startups, academia, and public sector initiatives—creating an ecosystem that can support long-term, scalable impact.

India Deploys 34,000 GPUs for Research Infrastructure

But what's research without infrastructure?

Recognizing the compute-heavy nature of AI development, the government has taken a massive leap by deploying 34,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs)—a critical resource for training large AI models.

• 19,000 GPUs have already been deployed.

• 16,000 more are being added in the second round of empanelment.

• A third round is expected soon.

“It’s a significantly large number of compute. This is a continuous process,” Vaishnaw said.

For context, GPUs are the engines that drive modern AI. The sheer scale of India’s deployment places it among the few nations globally with such expansive AI-ready infrastructure. A few months ago, there were doubts—could India pull this off? But the minister's message was loud and clear: "Those worries are now behind us."

Democratizing AI: From Labs to the Last Mile

What makes this mission truly impactful is its inclusive vision. The government is not just investing in tech for the elite—it wants to democratize AI.

“AI in itself may not mean much, but when applied to various sectors, it can make a big difference in solving problems at the population level,” Vaishnaw emphasized.

Whether it’s healthcare, agriculture, education, or urban planning, the real power of AI lies in its application to solve large-scale societal problems. The minister underlined that technology should not be monopolized by a few—it should be accessible to all, enabling every innovator and startup to build on top of it.

This inclusive philosophy resonates with India’s broader digital journey—much like how UPI transformed digital payments, India now wants to make AI open, accessible, and scalable.

Indigenous AI Models in the Works

Adding to the excitement is the upcoming launch of India’s first indigenous foundational AI model. Hosted on Indian servers and made open source, the model will not just showcase India’s capabilities—it will provide a vital resource for researchers and startups across the country.

In a global landscape where competition is fierce—think OpenAI in the US or DeepSeek in China—India’s strategy stands out: build for India, but open it up to the world.

₹10,300 Crore Boost Under IndiaAI Mission

All of this is part of the broader IndiaAI Mission, approved in 2024 with a massive allocation of ₹10,300 crore over five years. The mission includes:

• Building a high-end common computing facility

• Supporting foundational and applied research

• Encouraging AI startups and innovation hubs

• Promoting skilling, reskilling, and AI awareness

The minister rightly said:

“AI as a technology has just begun, and the number of innovations we’ll witness in the coming years will be phenomenal.”

This financial push is expected to transform India’s AI landscape, making it one of the most well-funded and structured government-led AI initiatives in the world.

What This Means for Indian Startups

For India’s startup ecosystem, this announcement opens up a world of opportunities:

• Compute power will no longer be a barrier for AI startups.

• The indigenous foundational model can help build domain-specific AI tools.

• The PhD programme will strengthen the talent pool and encourage deep-tech entrepreneurship.

• A democratized AI ecosystem ensures that even smaller players can participate in nation-building through tech.

Whether you're building a healthtech platform using machine learning, an agri-startup relying on AI-based forecasting, or a SaaS product with AI at its core—this is your moment.

India’s AI Mission is More Than Just Policy

India’s AI mission is not just a set of announcements. It is a call to action—for researchers, developers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers—to come together and build an AI-first future.

By betting big on research, compute, accessibility, and open-source development, India is laying the groundwork for a new era—one where AI becomes a tool for empowerment, not just efficiency.

As the world watches the AI arms race unfold, India is quietly and steadily putting together all the right pieces. The question now is: Are you ready to build on top of this revolution?