LLM FOUNDATIONAL MODEL

India plans to develop a domestic large language model (LLM) under the ₹10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission. The model will support 22 Indian languages, cultural contexts, and ethical frameworks, addressing sectors like healthcare and agriculture. GPU access will be subsidized, fostering AI innovation and reducing dependency on global models like ChatGPT.

Last Updated on 3rd February, 2025
5 minutes, 59 seconds

Description

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Picture Courtesy: India Today

Context:

The Indian government plans to develop a domestic large language model (LLM) as part of the Rs 10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission to rival models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

Details

The Indian government announced plans to develop a domestic large language model (LLM) to rival global counterparts like ChatGPT and DeepSeek R1.

This initiative falls under the ₹10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission, aimed at creating an AI ecosystem tailored to India’s linguistic, cultural, and contextual needs.

What is a Large Language Model (LLM)?

It is an artificial intelligence system that developers train on massive text datasets to understand, generate, and manipulate human language.

These models use deep learning architectures, like transformers, to predict text sequences and perform tasks such as translation, summarization, and conversation.

Developers train LLMs on diverse datasets—books, articles, websites, and code—enabling the models to identify statistical relationships between words, phrases, and contexts. The training process adjusts billions of parameters to refine the model’s ability to mimic human-like text.

Common applications of LLMs

  • Content generation: Writing articles, marketing copy, or code.
  • Customer support: Powering chatbots and virtual assistants.
  • Education: Tutoring systems and language learning tools.
  • Research: Summarizing papers or extracting insights from data.

What challenges do LLMs face?

  • Bias: Reflecting biases present in training data.
  • Factual accuracy: Generating plausible but incorrect information ("hallucinations").
  • Context limits: Handling long conversations or highly specialized topics.
  • Resource intensity: Requiring significant computational power and energy.

IndiaAI Mission

It was launched in March 2024 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 

The government approved a budget of ₹10,371.92 crore (approximately $1.25 billion) for the mission.

Objectives include democratizing computing access, improving data quality, fostering indigenous AI solutions, attracting top talent, enabling industry collaboration, funding startups, ensuring socially impactful AI projects, and promoting ethical AI development.

How is India addressing the power requirements for AI development?

The government selected 10 companies to supply 18,693 GPUs, critical for training AI models. Key suppliers include Yotta (providing 9,216 GPUs), Jio Platforms, Tata Communications, and E2E Networks. A common facility will launch soon, offering subsidized access to startups and researchers.

The government will offer GPU access at ₹115.85–₹150 per hour, with a 40% subsidy.

The IT Minister stated the foundational model could take 4–8 months to build, with a goal to deliver a “world-class” LLM within a few months. Six developers are currently in talks with the government for this project.

What unique features will India’s foundational AI model prioritize?

The model will include India’s 22 official languages, cultural context, and ethical frameworks to minimize biases. It aims to serve sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and governance while addressing local challenges.

Which sectors will benefit from the first round of AI application funding?

The government selected 18 AI solutions focused on agriculture, learning disabilities, and climate change. These applications aim to address pressing national challenges through scalable AI innovations.

Why is India building its own LLM instead of relying on global models?

Global models often lack proficiency in Indian languages and contextual understanding. A homegrown LLM ensures cultural relevance, reduces dependency on foreign tech, and aligns with India’s digital sovereignty goals.

Way Forward

The AI mission could stimulate AI-driven entrepreneurship, which will enhance productivity in key sectors, and position India as a hub for ethical, multilingual AI solutions. It also aims to create high-skilled jobs and attract global investments in tech.

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Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the IndiaAI Mission:

1. The government has selected 10 companies to supply GPUs for AI development.

2. Yotta will provide nearly half of the total GPUs committed.

3. The foundational model will be developed in collaboration with foreign AI labs.

4. The government is offering a 40% subsidy on GPU access costs.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) Only three 

D) All four

Answer: C 

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: as 10 companies have been selected to supply GPUs.

Statement 2 is correct: because Yotta has committed to providing 9,216 out of 18,693 GPUs.

Statement 3 is incorrect: as the Mission does not mention collaboration with foreign AI labs.

Statement 4 is correct: as the government is offering a 40% subsidy on GPU access costs.

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