Over 500 Proposals Pour In for IndiaAI, marking a monumental step toward building India’s AI backbone. This article explores the IndiaAI Mission’s success in attracting 506 foundation model proposals across three phases, highlighting the roles of startups like Sarvam.ai, the government’s vision for indigenous AI, and the implications for India’s tech ecosystem. With insights from Startup INIDAX, we dive into why this milestone is a game-changer, what’s next for the mission, and how it positions India as a global AI leader.
Table of Contents
The IndiaAI Mission: Fueling India’s AI Ambition
Launched in March 2024, the IndiaAI Mission is a bold step toward making India a self-reliant AI powerhouse. Designed to create foundational AI models, the mission targets India-specific challenges in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and education. Unlike global models trained on Western datasets, these indigenous models will understand India’s 22 official languages, diverse cultures, and unique contexts. The call for proposals, opened on January 30, 2025, invited startups, academics, and institutions to join this transformative journey.
Startup INIDAX has been closely following the mission, noting its potential to reshape India’s tech landscape. Beyond developing AI, the initiative offers affordable compute power (GPUs at under $1 per hour), datasets like AIKosha, and funding for innovators. With 18,693 GPUs committed, India is building a robust AI infrastructure. The real highlight? The 506 proposals submitted across three phases, reflecting the dynamism of India’s startup ecosystem.
A Three-Phase Surge of 506 Proposals
Over 500 Proposals Pour In for IndiaAI across three carefully structured phases, each amplifying the mission’s momentum:
- Phase 1 (Jan 30 – Feb 15, 2025): The first phase saw 67 proposals—22 for Large Language Models (LLMs) and 45 for Small Language Models (SLMs). This strong start showed India’s tech community was ready to act.
- Phase 2 (Feb 16 – Mar 15, 2025): The second phase drew 120 proposals, with 36 LLMs and 84 SLMs. The range of applications, from education to healthcare, underscored the mission’s wide appeal.
- Phase 3 (Mar 16 – Apr 30, 2025): The final phase saw such a flood of submissions that the deadline was extended from April 15 to April 30. While specific numbers for this phase remain undisclosed, the total reached 506, a remarkable feat.
The government paused new applications after April 30 to evaluate the proposals, promising updates soon. Startup INIDAX sees this phased approach as a strategic way to balance inclusivity with quality, ensuring startups and researchers have a fair shot at contributing.
Why Over 500 Proposals Matter
Why is it a big deal that Over 500 Proposals Pour In for IndiaAI? First, it highlights the depth of talent and ambition in India’s tech ecosystem. These proposals aren’t just numbers—they come from leading AI startups like Sarvam AI, CoRover.ai, and Ola’s Krutrim, as well as international teams from Singapore and San Francisco. They span LLMs for complex reasoning to SLMs for specialized tasks, like aiding breast cancer research.
This response also reflects confidence in the IndiaAI Mission’s vision. With equity-based funding, compute credits, and access to Nvidia H100 GPUs, the government is empowering innovators to think big. The focus on Indian datasets ensures these models address local needs—like translating regional dialects or improving rural education—while remaining globally competitive. Startup INIDAX emphasizes that this positions India to shift from an AI consumer to a creator, a critical step for tech sovereignty.
Sarvam.ai: Pioneering India’s AI Models
Sarvam.ai stands out as a trailblazer, selected in the first phase to develop a 70-billion-parameter foundational model. Set to launch within six months, this model will excel in Indian languages, reasoning, and voice interactions. Partnering with AI4Bharat at IIT-Madras, Sarvam.ai is ensuring cultural and linguistic accuracy.
Sarvam.ai’s strategy includes:
- Sarvam-Large: For advanced tasks like content generation.
- Sarvam-Small: For real-time, interactive applications.
- Sarvam-Edge: For compact, on-device solutions.
With 4,096 Nvidia H100 GPUs allocated for six months, Sarvam.ai is well-equipped to deliver. Startup INIDAX views this as proof that Indian startups can rival global AI leaders like OpenAI, setting a high bar for indigenous innovation.
Tailoring AI for India’s Unique Needs
Global AI models often falter in India’s complex landscape—22 official languages, countless dialects, and distinct cultural nuances pose challenges. The IndiaAI Mission aims to bridge this gap by training models on Indian datasets, ensuring AI that resonates with local realities. From farmers needing crop advice in Tamil to doctors seeking tools for regional health issues, these models will deliver practical solutions.
The mission also prioritizes ethical AI, with guidelines to mitigate bias and comply with laws like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. This commitment to fairness makes the 506 proposals even more impactful—they’re about building AI that’s inclusive and trustworthy. Startup INIDAX notes that this aligns with India’s goal of reducing reliance on foreign models, enhancing data privacy and cultural relevance.
Startups Driving India’s AI Revolution
Startups are at the core of this initiative. India boasts over 200 GenAI startups, which raised $1.2 billion from 2020 to 2024. Companies like Sarvam AI, CoRover.ai, and Krutrim are leading the charge, and the IndiaAI Mission is amplifying their impact. By providing compute credits, funding, and datasets, the mission empowers smaller teams to compete with global giants.
The diversity of proposals—from LLMs to niche SLMs—shows startups are innovating with purpose. For instance, one proposal by doctors focuses on breast cancer research, highlighting AI’s potential for social good. Startup INIDAX believes this startup-driven approach could make India a global hub for AI innovation, blending profit with impact.
The Road Ahead for IndiaAI
With 506 proposals under review, the IndiaAI Mission is entering a pivotal phase. The government will soon announce additional selections, with evaluations prioritizing early submissions. Shortlisted applicants will present detailed plans, and selected ones will secure funding or investment deals.
The mission is also expanding its ecosystem through initiatives like the AIKosha datasets platform and the IndiaAI Compute Portal. By 2026, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has pledged that India will have its own LLM. With 27 AI labs planned in smaller cities and AI education in schools, the mission is building a long-term foundation. Startup INIDAX sees the coming months as critical—swift approvals and transparency could sustain this momentum, while reopening applications could draw even more talent.
Startup INIDAX’s Perspective: A Defining Moment
At Startup INIDAX, we view Over 500 Proposals Pour In for IndiaAI as a defining moment. These proposals reflect India’s potential to lead in AI, creating models that respect its diversity and values. The mission is also a catalyst for job creation and tech innovation, empowering entrepreneurs to build solutions with global impact. As we track this journey, Startup INIDAX is excited to see how these proposals shape India’s role in the AI landscape, challenging the dominance of Western and Chinese models.
Conclusion: India’s AI Future is Bright
Over 500 Proposals Pour In for IndiaAI, and this is just the beginning. The IndiaAI Mission is sparking a movement, uniting startups, researchers, and the government to build an AI backbone that reflects India’s unique identity. With leaders like Sarvam.ai and a robust ecosystem, India is on track to create AI models that rival global standards while addressing local needs.
Startup INIDAX is optimistic about the future. The 506 proposals showcase India’s talent and ambition, and with continued support, they could redefine the country’s place in the global AI race. The journey to build India’s AI backbone has started—let’s see how far it takes us.
