Artificial Intelligence (AI) Appreciation Day 

Syllabus :GS3/Science and Technology 

In News

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Appreciation Day is being observed in India. The day celebrates the country’s growing role in the global AI landscape. 

India’s AI journey 

• AI is transforming healthcare, education, agriculture, governance, and industry in the country.

• India’s AI journey  began in the 1960s with early computer science research. 
• A major step came in 1986 with the Knowledge-Based Computer Systems project. In the 1990s, organisations like C-DAC advanced supercomputing and early AI work. 
• By the 2000s, IT companies such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro began investing in AI, while universities built a strong talent pool.
• The Digital India push in 2015 and NITI Aayog’s 2018 AI strategy accelerated growth.

 Progress in AI

• India’s progress in AI is the result of years of planning and support. 

• India has emerged as the fastest-growing developer population globally and ranks second in public generative AI projects on GitHub.
  •  The country is home to 16% of the world’s AI talent, showcasing its growing influence in AI innovation and adoption.
• India has made significant strides in AI, emerging as a key player in the global AI landscape. According to Stanford University’s AI Index Report, 2024, India ranks seventh globally in aggregate private AI investments between 2013 and 2023, with a total of USD 9.85 billion.
• Today, India is becoming a global AI leader. Its software talent and access to large data sets help create effective AI solutions.
• India’s diverse needs also provide real-world testing for AI-from farming and healthcare to traffic control and public services.

 Various Steps 

• India is rapidly enhancing its AI and semiconductor infrastructure with the 2024-approved India AI Mission, which allocates ₹10,300 crore over five years. 
• The government launched programmes like the Skill India AI Portal, National AI Skilling Programme, and AI Youth Bootcamp.
  • These initiatives offer training, certifications, and hands-on projects to students and workers. 
• Vocational centres are also adopting AI tools to boost traditional industries.
• The government is also investing in AI research through funding programs and new centres that link education and industry. 
• Partnerships with tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and IBM are helping India stay connected to global developments.
• BharatGen: The world’s first government-funded multimodal LLM initiative, BharatGen was launched in 2024 in Delhi.
  • It aims to enhance public service delivery and citizen engagement through foundational models in language, speech, and computer vision. 
  • It involves a consortium of AI researchers from premier academic institutions in India.
• India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has redefined digital innovation by combining public funding with private sector-led innovation.
  • Platforms like Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker serve as the foundation, while private entities build application-specific solutions on top of them. 
  • This model is now being enhanced with AI, integrating intelligent solutions into financial and governance platforms.
• The government’s AI for All vision and the National Strategy for AI aim to use AI not just for economic growth, but also to improve lives, ensure inclusion, and promote equity.

Future Outlook 

• India’s balanced AI regulation promotes innovation while ensuring accountability, avoiding both overregulation and unchecked market dominance. 
• Instead of just laws, it invests in AI-driven safeguards through top universities and IITs to tackle issues like deep fakes, privacy, and cybersecurity.
  • This techno-legal strategy fosters ethical and inclusive AI growth.
• Focused on open data, affordable computing, and local solutions, India is creating an inclusive ecosystem benefiting businesses, researchers, and citizens.
  • This proactive approach strengthens the digital economy and advances self-reliance, positioning India as a future leader in AI innovation worldwide.

Source: AIR