Govt Aims to Democratise AI Access with Rs 10,300 Cr Push: IT Minister Vaishnaw

New Delhi: Union Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, on 3 December, said the Centre is working to democratise technology and ensure equitable access to emerging digital tools across the country.

Speaking virtually at the Regional AI Impact Conference in Shillong, he said the government has allocated Rs 10,300 crore over five years to build an inclusive artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Vaishnaw said a Common Compute Facility equipped with more than 38,000 graphics processing units has been created to provide affordable access to high-end AI resources. The initiative also includes 3,800 datasets and over 250 open-source models to support startups, researchers and innovators.

He said India aims to train one million people in AI skills to strengthen future employability and competitiveness. As part of the skilling drive, 570 Data & AI Labs are being set up nationwide, including at NIELIT Shillong. New labs will also come up at ITI Shillong, Shillong Polytechnic and ITI Tura in Meghalaya.

Meghalaya Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar said the summit offers opportunities for collaboration in artificial intelligence while supporting the state’s vision to break into the top 10 in national development rankings.

He noted the state’s 75 per cent forest cover and highlighted the use of predictive modelling with Yale University to identify deforestation risks, leading to the Payment for Ecosystem Services scheme that supports forest owners.

Joint Secretary in MeitY, Sudeep Shrivastava, said the IndiaAI Mission, launched in 2024 with an outlay of Rs 10,371 crore, focuses on seven pillars, including compute, foundation models, datasets, startups, skills and safe AI.

He said Meghalaya’s young population and clean energy advantages make it well-positioned to attract knowledge-driven investments.

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