MeitY Launches AIKosha and Other Initiatives 

Syllabus: GS3/Science & Technology; Awareness in the Field of IT

Context

• The Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology unveiled a series of AI-driven initiatives under the IndiaAI Mission, marking a major step in strengthening India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Key Initiatives Launched

• AIKosha (IndiaAI Datasets Platform): A secured AI repository designed to facilitate AI innovation by providing:
  • 300+ datasets and 80+ AI models for diverse applications.
  • An AI sandbox environment with an integrated development environment (IDE), tools, and tutorials.
  • The datasets on AI Kosha include submissions from various sources, such as 2011 Census data, satellite imagery captured by Indian satellites, Open Governance Data platform, health data, and meteorological and pollution data.
• IndiaAI Compute Portal: It provides discounted AI compute, network, storage, and cloud services to startups, MSMEs, researchers, students, and government agencies.
  • Eligible AI users can receive up to 40% subsidy on cloud AI compute services.
  • It supports high-end and mid-range GPUs such as NVIDIA H100, H200, A100, AMD MI300x, Intel Gaudi 2, and AWS Tranium.
• AI Competency Framework for Public Sector Officials: To equip government officials with AI-related skills.
• iGOT-AI: Personalized AI Learning: AI-powered content recommendation system for government officials on the iGOT Karmayogi platform.
• IndiaAI Startup Financing: IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Program with STATION F (four-month accelerator program in collaboration with STATION F and HEC Paris).
• IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC): Supports Indian researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs in building Indian Foundational Models (LLMs, SLMs & LMMs). 

IndiaAI Mission 

• About: Launched in March 2024, it is a comprehensive initiative aimed at fostering AI research, development, and innovation in India.
• Funding: 5-year public-private partnership model.
• Implementing Agency: ‘IndiaAI’ Independent Business Division under Digital India Corporation.
• Objectives: Strengthening public-private partnerships to accelerate AI research & development.
  • Deployment of over 10,000 GPUs to enable high-performance AI computing.
  • Establishing AI supercomputing facilities like AIRAWAT at C-DAC, Pune.
  • Ensuring ethical AI practices, data transparency, and accessibility.
• Over the next five years, IndiaAI Mission will support the initiatives like:

Conclusion

• The launch of AIKosha, the AI Compute Portal, and other IndiaAI initiatives marks a major step in democratizing AI access, fostering research-driven innovation, and strengthening India’s global AI leadership. 
• The event brought together government officials, researchers, industry leaders, and startups, fostering collaboration to build an AI-powered future for India.

Source: PIB