AI Mission 2.0 to launch soon; IndiaAI to add 20,000 GPUs for common compute
AI Mission 2.0 will focus on AI R&D and innovation as IndiaAI plans to add 20,000 GPUs to its common compute cluster, says IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
AI Mission 2.0 to launch soon; IndiaAI to add 20,000 GPUs for common compute
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the launch of AI Mission 2.0, with a strong focus on AI R&D and innovation, alongside plans to add 20,000 GPUs to IndiaAI’s common compute infrastructure.
The government will soon roll out AI Mission 2.0, marking the next phase of India’s national artificial intelligence strategy, with a sharper focus on research, innovation and wider AI adoption, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Mr. Vaishnaw said that the IndiaAI Mission will procure an additional 20,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) for its government-run “common compute” cluster. These GPUs are expected to be installed within the next six months and will be accessible to Indian startups, researchers, academia and industry players.
“As we go forward, I will be launching AI Mission 2.0, where there will be a huge focus on research and development, innovation, AI diffusion and further strengthening the common compute infrastructure built in the first phase,” the Minister said.
IT Secretary S. Krishnan highlighted that the government’s intent behind providing shared AI infrastructure — including a forthcoming foundational large language model developed by an Indian firm — is to enable applications with real-world impact. He noted that AI could significantly enhance productivity in critical public services such as education, healthcare and the judiciary, provided solutions are scaled responsibly with strong privacy safeguards.
On the sidelines of the summit, controversy emerged over the invitation to Bill Gates as a keynote speaker, with opposition leaders questioning the decision. Responding to the issue, Mr. Vaishnaw declined to comment, stating that attendance at the summit was a personal choice.
The expansion of common compute capacity and the planned AI Mission 2.0 underline the government’s push to position India as a global AI hub while ensuring that public investments in AI generate measurable and inclusive outcomes.
