Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, India has emerged as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), transforming its digital ecosystem and establishing itself as a technological powerhouse. Since 2014, strategic initiatives, substantial investments, and a commitment to inclusive innovation have propelled India’s AI ecosystem to unprecedented heights. Policies like the IndiaAI Mission and Digital India have driven technological advancements while yielding widespread benefits, including improved public services, economic growth, and social empowerment. This article explores India’s AI journey, highlighting key achievements and their broader impacts, supported by recent data.

The IndiaAI Mission, launched in 2024, forms the cornerstone of India’s AI progress. It aims to foster a robust AI ecosystem by promoting innovation, developing indigenous technologies, and ensuring accessibility. A flagship component is a high-end computing facility with 18,693 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), one of the largest AI compute infrastructures globally. This facility offers researchers and startups GPU access at a subsidised rate of Rs. 100 per hour, compared to the global average of $2.5–$3 (Rs. 250-300), making cutting-edge technology widely available. This affordability has sparked innovation, enabling tailored AI solutions for India’s unique needs.

The government has established four AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Healthcare, Agriculture, Sustainable Cities, and Education, driving collaboration among academia, industry, and government, advancing specialised AI applications. For instance, the Healthcare CoE has integrated the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) into eSanjeevani, India’s national telemedicine platform. Since its integration, CDSS has enhanced over 19.6 crore consultations through standardised data capture and aided 12 million with AI-recommended diagnoses, improving healthcare access and quality, particularly in underserved regions.

India’s focus on homegrown AI models reflects its commitment to cultural and linguistic inclusivity. Launched in 2024, BharatGen, the world’s first government-funded multimodal Large Language Model (LLM), enhances public service delivery through language, speech, and computer vision capabilities. Similarly, Sarvam-1, a 2-billion-parameter LLM, supports ten major Indian languages, enabling applications like translation and content generation. Hanooman’s Everest 1.0, covering 35 Indian languages with plans to expand to 90, further helping bridge linguistic divides.

The Digital India BHASHINI platform exemplifies this commitment to linguistic diversity. By providing AI-driven translation and voice-based access, BHASHINI has made digital services accessible to millions, especially in rural areas. With over 100 million monthly inferences and 350+ pre-trained AI language models, it enables citizens to engage with technology in their native languages, fostering digital inclusion. This accessibility empowers non-English-speaking populations to access education, healthcare, and government services, while also preserving India’s linguistic heritage, strengthening cultural identity in the digital age.

AI’s impact is transformative in public health and agriculture. In agriculture, AI tools like ‘Kisan e-Mitra’ and the National Pest Surveillance System have revolutionised farming. Kisan e-Mitra addresses over 20,000 daily farmer queries about the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, resolving 92 lakh+ queries to date. The Pest Surveillance System, supporting 61 crops and over 400 pests, uses AI to detect infestations, ensuring healthier crops and higher yields. These tools directly enhance farmer productivity, boost income and food security, and drive rural economic growth and sustainability.

India’s AI ecosystem has fuelled economic growth. The BCG-NASSCOM Report 2024 projects India’s AI market to grow at a CAGR of 25–35%, driven by 520+ tech incubators and accelerators, ranking third globally. Additionally, 78% of Indian small & medium businesses (SMBs) using AI reported revenue growth, with 93% attributing increased revenues to AI adoption. The semiconductor ecosystem, supported by the Rs. 76,000 crore Semicon India Programme, is poised to meet a USD 100 billion demand by 2030, creating jobs and fostering innovation.

Socially, AI has promoted inclusivity, particularly for women. India leads globally in AI skill penetration for women with a score of 1.7, surpassing the US (1.2) and Israel (0.9). AI education initiatives like the Chips to Startup (C2S) programme, training 43,000+ students in VLSI and Embedded System Design, are building a diverse talent pool. This empowerment increases female workforce participation and promotes long-term gender equality in technology.

India’s AI leadership extends globally, with the country co-chairing the 2025 AI Action Summit and contributing 23% to GitHub’s AI projects, surpassing the US (14%). The National Quantum Mission, with a Rs. 6,000 crore outlay, aims to develop quantum computers with 20–1,000 qubits, complementing AI advancements. These efforts position India as a hub for cutting-edge technology, attracting global investments and partnerships.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, ensures responsible AI growth by safeguarding data privacy, building trust in digital systems. This trust encourages broader AI adoption, positioning India as a model for ethical AI governance worldwide.

Under PM Modi’s leadership, India’s AI ecosystem has thrived, driven by strategic investments, inclusive policies, and a commitment to innovation. From healthcare to agriculture, AI has delivered tangible benefits, while broader impacts like economic growth, digital inclusion, global leadership, and cultural preservation highlight its transformative potential. With initiatives like BharatGen, BHASHINI, and the IndiaAI Mission, India is not only leveraging AI for national development but also setting a global standard for inclusive and ethical technological progress.