In a major stride towards advancing India’s AI ecosystem, Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, unveiled a series of groundbreaking AI initiatives to mark the IndiaAI Mission anniversary. Among the key announcements were the launch of AIKosha: IndiaAI Datasets Platform, the IndiaAI Compute Portal, and several strategic programs aimed at accelerating AI adoption, research, and workforce development. AIKosha: A Secured AI Innovation Platform The launch of AIKosha marks a significant milestone in India's AI roadmap. AIKosha serves as a comprehensive, secured repository of datasets, AI models, and real-world use cases, designed to foster AI-driven research and innovation. The platform offers sandbox capabilities, an integrated development environment (IDE), and learning resources such as tutorials and AI tools. Key features include: Content discoverability and AI readiness scoring for datasets Permission-based access and data encryption for security Secure API integration and real-time traffic filtering By providing structured, ethically sourced, and high-quality datasets, AIKosha aims to reduce reliance on foreign or synthetic data and promote responsible AI development in India. IndiaAI Compute Portal: Democratizing AI Infrastructure A major highlight of the event was the launch of the IndiaAI Compute Portal, which will provide accessible and affordable AI compute, network, storage, and cloud services. Initially offering access to 10,000 GPUs, with 8,693 more to be added, the platform will enable startups, researchers, PhD scholars, students, and government agencies to access AI compute at highly subsidized rates (up to 40%). Through a rigorous bidding process, 10 AI service providers were selected to offer compute resources, including cutting-edge GPUs such as NVIDIA H100, A100, L40S, AMD MI300X, and Intel Gaudi 2. This initiative is expected to significantly boost India's AI capabilities and ensure that AI innovation is not limited by computational constraints. Strengthening AI Governance and Public Sector Upskilling Recognizing the critical role of AI in governance, the government introduced the AI Competency Framework, aimed at equipping public sector officials with AI literacy, competency mapping, and upskilling initiatives. This framework aligns with global best practices to ensure that AI-driven policy-making and implementation are efficient, ethical, and impactful. Additionally, the launch of iGOT-AI, an AI-powered personalized learning platform, will enhance the training experience for government officials through AI-driven content recommendations on the iGOT Karmayogi platform. Global Expansion for Indian AI Startups To elevate India’s AI ecosystem on the international stage, the IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Program has been launched in collaboration with STATION F and HEC Paris. This four-month immersive program (one month online, three months onsite in Paris) will offer 10 promising Indian AI startups access to: Mentorship and networking with global AI leaders Exposure to European AI markets Resources for scaling AI solutions internationally This initiative reflects India's ambition to position itself as a global AI hub, fostering deep collaborations with international AI ecosystems. IndiaAI FutureSkills Fellowship: Bridging the AI Talent Gap To cultivate the next generation of AI experts, the government introduced the IndiaAI FutureSkills Fellowship, which will support AI students and researchers from leading institutes such as IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other government and private universities. Additionally, IndiaAI Data Labs are being set up in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to impart foundational AI education, with a focus on roles like Data Annotators and Data Curators in sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and agriculture. A Vision for India’s AI Future Speaking at the event, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted India’s remarkable rise in the global AI landscape, securing Rank 1 in AI skill penetration and being recognized among the Top 10 AI nations. He emphasized that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision has always been to democratize technology and drive India’s AI-led growth. He noted that the government’s structured approach, with an investment of Rs 103.72 billion, ensures a well-defined AI strategy with seven core pillars: With these initiatives, India is set to lead the AI revolution, ensuring that AI innovation, research, and application development are inclusive, responsible, and globally competitive.