UPSC Notes

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India

PYQs

11

Articles

2

Momentum

29

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

This mission demonstrates India's strategic vision for AI development, focusing on self-reliance in technology, skill development, and leveraging AI for digital governance and economic growth, impacting various sectors.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans, encompassing areas like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. India's focus on AI is driven by its potential to revolutionize various sectors, enhance productivity, and foster a knowledge-based economy.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

IndiaAI Mission Outlay

Over ₹10,372 crore

Shared Compute Facility

Over 45,000 GPUs

AI Kosh Platform

Hosts 12,519 datasets, 307 AI models

AI Governance Guidelines

Released November 2025 (safe, inclusive, trustworthy AI)

Objective

Establish a robust, inclusive, and responsible AI ecosystem.

Key Pillars

IndiaAI Compute, Foundation Models, Application Development, Future Skills, AIKosh, Safe & Trusted AI, Startup Financing.

Focus Areas

Promote indigenous AI capabilities, innovation, responsible AI, and socio-economic transformation.

Collaboration

Leverages collaboration with sovereign AI companies.

Reference table

Pillars of IndiaAI Mission

PillarFocus Area
IndiaAI ComputeBuilding AI computing infrastructure
Foundation ModelsDeveloping large AI models
IndiaAI Application Development InitiativeCreating sector-specific AI applications
IndiaAI Future SkillsDeveloping AI talent and workforce
AIKosh (IndiaAI Datasets Platform)Curating and providing datasets for AI development
Safe & Trusted AIEnsuring ethical and responsible AI development
IndiaAI Startup FinancingProviding funding for AI startups

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaScience & Technology
Conceptual areaIndian Economy
Conceptual areaGovernance
Conceptual areaEmerging Information Technologies
Conceptual areaWelfare Schemes & Social Policies
Conceptual areaIntellectual Property Rights & Regulations

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)Implements
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Statement-based questions

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • IndiaAI Mission: ₹10,372 crore outlay.
  • Focus on compute infrastructure (45,000 GPUs).
  • Supports LLMs/SLMs, AI Kosh platform for data.
  • Promotes AI skill development & regional labs.
  • Emphasizes safe, inclusive, trustworthy AI governance.

High-confidence PYQs

Topic timeline

Science & TechnologyIndian EconomyGovernanceEmerging Information Technologies

Digital India Nears 11 Years, Driving India's Next Phase of Technology-Led Growth through Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Digital Public Infrastructure and Affordable Digital Connectivity

27 Jun 2026 · India is actively building an indigenous AI ecosystem through the IndiaAI Mission, focusing on shared compute infrastructure, foundation models (LLMs/SLMs), data platforms (AI Kosh), skill development, and ethical AI governance. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 showcased India's global leadership in trustworthy AI.

Read article

Ministry of Minority Affairs leverages AI and digital technologies to boost efficiency, effectiveness to strengthen digital governance and citizen-centric service delivery

05 Aug 2026 · A comprehensive national program to build India's AI ecosystem, focusing on compute infrastructure, foundational models, skill development, data platforms, responsible AI, and startup funding to drive socio-economic transformation.

Read article

Related topics

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 11 linked questions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct ? 1. LLMs assign probabilities to the ...

2026·Science & Technology
Solve

Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct? 1. It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum comp...

2026·Science & Technology
Solve

Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi : 1. The Summit's intellectual framework was based on three f...

2026·Science & Technology
Solve

Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India? 1. Formation of India's own Internet companies like China did...

2018·Social Issues & Schemes
Solve

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence an effectively do which of the following? 1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial ...

2020·Science & Technology
Solve

With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements : 1. Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data. 2. In Web 3-0 world, there ca...

2022·Science & Technology
Solve

With reference to “Software as a Service (SaaS)”, consider the following statements: 1. SaaS buyers can customize the user interface and can change data fie...

2022·Science & Technology
Solve

Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025: I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the...

2025·International Relations
Solve

In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cybersecurity incidents? 1. Service providers 2. Data centres 3. Body corporate...

2017·Science & Technology
Solve

Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India : I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-le...

2026·Economy
Solve

Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India: 1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial o...

2026·Science & Technology
Solve

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