IndiaAI Mission Sees Strong Industry Response with 18,000 GPU Bids in Round 2

The government received numerous responses to the IndiaAI GPU bids as part of its continuous efforts to enhance artificial intelligence infrastructure in the country. In Round-2 of the IndiaAI mission, various technology companies made bids providing a total of 18,000 GPUs, as reported by Inc42. An ET report cited IndiaAI CEO Abhishek Singh who said that 15K GPUs will be offered after checking technical qualifications and commercial bid-opening.

Surge in Interest for AI Infrastructure

In the latest update, the centre confirmed that it received GPU bids for 18000 units from different industry players, under the IndiaAI missin. This will be a massive advantage for the mission with strong signs of industry support and confidence in the Indian AI roadmap.

The second round is the follow-up to the initial call for proposals issued earlier this year as part of the IndiaAI Mission, a flagship scheme by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). The goal is to build an AI ecosystem that can enable large-scale research, development, and real-world application of AI.

In this round, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has selected seven companies. These companies include Sify Digital Services, Netmagic IT Services, Vensysco Technologies, Cyfuture India, Yotta Data Services, Locuz Enterprise Solutions, and Ishan Infotech.

Some of these firms are also working with global cloud giants. Vensysco and Locuz are teaming up with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Ishan Infotech is partnering with Oracle, and Netmagic is linked with Google Cloud in India.

Round-2 Attracts Bigger Participation

Last year, the Union Cabinet approved a budget of ₹10,372 crore for the IndiaAI Mission, to be spent over the next five years. The goal is to boost innovation in India’s AI space through a public-private partnership model.

The mission includes several key programs like building AI computing power, setting up an innovation centre, creating a platform for datasets, supporting AI-based applications, developing future skills, funding startups, and promoting safe and trustworthy AI use.

In comparison to the initial phase, Round-2 of the IndiaAI Mission has seen greater participation and more aggressive bids. Government officials stated that the quantity and quality of proposals received in this round reflect a growing interest in India’s AI space.

IndiaAI’s computing capacity program seeks to create high-performance computing setups that will benefit academic institutions, startups, as well as government agencies. With the provision of greater access to such potent machinery, India wants to create a level playing field for AI innovation.

Private Sector to Play a Key Role

Industry players, ranging from major data center operators to cloud service providers, are expected to play an important role in executing the IndiaAI Mission. These collaborations will not only support government-backed research but also aid startups and small businesses that may not have access to such computing infrastructure.

With 18,000 GPU bids in the Round-2 of the IndiaAI Mission, the country is rapidly strengthening its position in the global AI race. As the government evaluates the proposals, industry experts believe that this could mark a turning point in how AI is developed, deployed, and scaled in India.

MeitY said in a statement last year, “The government is actively shaping an AI ecosystem where computing power, GPUs, and research opportunities are accessible at an affordable cost.”