Ashwini Vaishnaw launches AI Compute Portal, unveils plans for 27 AI labs and indigenous GPU development

The platform aims to provide high-powered computing resources, including advanced Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), to researchers, startups, and government agencies for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

At the launch, Vaishnaw announced the establishment of 27 AI data laboratories across India.

He also stated that applications for developing foundational AI models had been received and were under review.

IndiaAI Mission: Scaling AI infrastructure

With the approval of the IndiaAI Mission in 2024, the government has allocated Rs 10,300 crore over five years to strengthen AI capabilities.

A key component of this initiative is a shared AI computing facility with 18,693 GPUs, making it one of the largest AI compute infrastructures globally.

This capacity is nine times larger than the open-source AI model DeepSeek and two-thirds of the compute power used by ChatGPT.

In the initial rollout, 10,000 GPUs have been made available, with further expansions planned to cater to India's AI-driven needs.

Open GPU marketplace and affordable access

Unlike in some countries where AI infrastructure is concentrated in major corporations, India has introduced an open GPU marketplace to ensure equitable access to high-performance computing resources.

To make AI computing affordable, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has set GPU access rates at Rs 100 per hour (approximately £1 per hour), significantly lower than the global cost of £2 to £2.40 per hour.

Indigenous GPU and semiconductor expansion

To reduce reliance on imported technology, the government has engaged 10 companies to supply GPUs and has set a target to develop an indigenous GPU within the next three to five years.

India is also advancing its semiconductor manufacturing sector, with five semiconductor plants currently under construction.

These efforts are expected to support AI development while strengthening India’s electronics industry.