India Will Have its Own LLM Soon, Says IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

India is set to develop its own generative AI model, aiming to rival global platforms like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave. 

“Very soon we will have our own LLM,” said Vaishnaw.

The initiative will be driven by the IndiaAI Compute Facility, which has acquired 18,000 GPUs to support the creation of a LLM tailored to the country’s needs.

The minister also disclosed plans to set up AI data centres in Odisha, reinforcing India’s efforts to enhance its AI ecosystem and digital infrastructure. With 18,000 GPUs in place, India is well on its way to build a homegrown AI model that will cater to the unique linguistic, economic, and social requirements of the nation.

The Indian government has been ramping up investments in AI research and infrastructure to reduce reliance on foreign AI models and foster a self-sufficient digital ecosystem. DeepSeek has woken up every country to the same. 

With the Union Budget 2025 just around the corner, speculations and discussions are rife about who stands to benefit and what allocations will be made. While finance is obviously the big picture, considering how India’s AI Mission found its place in the previous Budget, AI will possibly take centre stage in the upcoming session.

In the Union Budget 2024-25, the Indian government has underscored its commitment to AI by approving the comprehensive IndiaAI Mission. A substantial financial outlay of over ₹10,000 crore was earmarked for the mission over five years, of which ₹551 crore has already been allotted.