In a significant stride towards technological progress, the Indian government is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to foster artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across its various ministries and departments. This ambitious project involves the establishment of specialized AI computing assessment and curation units within each ministry, designed to thoroughly evaluate their specific high-end computing needs and resource requirements. With a substantial budget of nearly Rs 10,000 crore, this national endeavor underscores the government’s commitment to harnessing the power of AI for enhanced governance and innovation.
Central to this initiative is the strategic allocation of GPUs, the powerhouse processors that drive AI computations. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will assume a pivotal role in determining the distribution of these valuable resources among the ministries, ensuring an equitable and efficient allocation based on individual computing demands. Recognizing the scarcity of GPUs, a collaborative approach may be adopted, wherein ministries with less intensive computing needs share these resources on a distributed basis, fostering a spirit of cooperation and resource optimization.
Under the expansive umbrella of the Rs 10,372-crore India AI mission, the IT ministry envisions a robust computing infrastructure with a capacity of 10,000 or more GPUs. This extensive network will be accessible to a wide range of stakeholders, encompassing startups, academic institutions, research organizations, and enterprises. By facilitating access to this cutting-edge technology through domestic data center companies, the government aims to democratize AI capabilities and catalyze innovation across various sectors. The procurement of these GPUs alone is estimated to require a substantial investment of up to Rs 5,000 crore, underscoring the magnitude of this transformative undertaking.
In a bid to further augment India’s AI prowess, the government is actively engaging in discussions with global GPU manufacturers like Nvidia, renowned for their high-performance computing solutions. The objective is to secure these sought-after components at subsidized rates, making them more accessible to Indian users and fostering a thriving AI ecosystem. A viability gap funding model is also being explored to support this ambitious endeavor and bridge any financial gaps.
While the global supply of GPUs faced challenges in recent times, the availability of Nvidia’s H100 chips, a cutting-edge offering, has witnessed a notable improvement. With a reasonable delivery time of 6-8 weeks, these powerful processors are now within reach, enabling Indian entities to accelerate their AI projects and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
Prominent Indian conglomerates like Reliance Group, Tata Group, and Yotta Infrastructure have already forged strategic partnerships with Nvidia to bring GPUs to the domestic market. This collaborative effort exemplifies a shared vision for a technologically empowered India, where AI plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and economic growth.
India’s strategic focus on AI infrastructure, exemplified by this comprehensive initiative, marks a significant leap towards a technologically advanced future. By establishing dedicated AI computing assessment units, ensuring judicious allocation of GPUs, and fostering collaborations with global technology leaders, the government is paving the way for a vibrant AI ecosystem that empowers various sectors and propels the nation towards greater heights of innovation and progress.
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