Union Minister Vaishnaw: India to Develop Affordable AI Model to Rival ChatGPT & DeepSeek

Highlights

• India is developing an affordable AI model to rival ChatGPT and DeepSeek.
• These will be designed for the Indian context, languages and culture.
• According to Union Minister Vaishnaw, the Indian AI Model is expected to be ready in 10 months.
• The AI model uses 18,693 GPUs, with a cost of ₹100 per hour after a 40% government subsidy.
• The IndiaAI Safety Institute will collaborate with various entities to ensure AI safety, security and trust focusing on indigenous R&D and using Indian datasets.

India is gearing up to enter the AI race with its own affordable foundational AI model, similar to ChatGPT and DeepSeek. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this at an event by the Indian AI Mission in New Delhi stating that the model will be ready in 10 months.

Over the past 1.5 years, Indian researchers have been working on building an AI ecosystem to support this initiative. The new AI model will be designed specifically for Indian users addressing linguistic and cultural needs while promoting inclusivity and reducing biases.

“Over the last 1.5 years, our teams have been working closely with startups, researchers, professors etc. Today, we are calling for proposals to develop our own foundational model. The model will take care of the Indian context, languages and culture are devoid of biases,” Vaishnaw told reporters.

Vaishnaw said, “Leading developers and researchers are working towards completing multiple foundational models within 8 to 10 months, leveraging algorithmic efficiency to achieve cost-effective and timely development.”

The minister also highlighted India’s computational strength revealing that the AI model is being developed using 18,693 GPUs with 10,000 already deployed and the remaining 8,693 to be added soon. To put this into perspective, DeepSeek was trained on 2,000 GPUs and ChatGPT on 25,000 GPUs.

A major advantage of India’s AI model will be its cost-effectiveness. While top global AI models cost around $2.5–$3 per hour, India’s model will cost ₹100 per hour after a 40% government subsidy. “The attractive half-yearly and annual plans will make it more affordable,” Vaishnaw added.

At the same event, Vaishnaw also announced the launch of the IndiaAI Safety Institute under the India AI Mission.

This institute will collaborate with academia, startups, industry and government bodies to ensure AI safety, security and trust. It will also focus on indigenous R&D using Indian datasets tailored to the country’s social, economic, cultural and linguistic diversity.

With this initiative, India is set to make AI more accessible and affordable competing with global AI giants while keeping local needs in focus.

FAQs

Q1. What is India developing in the AI space?

Answer. India is developing an affordable AI model to rival ChatGPT and DeepSeek, designed for the Indian context, languages and culture, and expected to be ready in 10 months.

Q2. How many GPUs are being used to develop India’s AI model?

Answer. The AI model is being developed using 18,693 GPUs with 10,000 already deployed and the remaining 8,693 to be added soon.

Q3. What will be the cost of using India’s AI model?

Answer. The model will cost ₹100 per hour after a 40% government subsidy, making it highly cost-effective compared to global AI models.

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