India unveils massive AI Compute Portal, 27 labs planned

The infrastructure offers nearly nine times the computing power of the open-source AI model DeepSeek and about two-thirds of the computational capacity used by the popular AI model ChatGPT

Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, launched the AI Compute Portal in New Delhi on March 6, marking a major milestone in India’s artificial intelligence (AI) development. The platform is designed to offer researchers, startups, and government agencies access to high-powered computing resources, including advanced Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), to accelerate AI applications across the country.

During the launch event, Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s commitment to AI growth, announcing plans to establish 27 AI data laboratories across India. He also revealed that the government had received multiple applications for the development of foundational AI models, which are now under review.

The AI Compute Portal is part of the broader national AI Mission, which was approved in 2024 with an ambitious budget of ₹10,300 crore (approximately $1.3 billion) over five years. This funding aims to enhance India’s AI infrastructure and innovation capabilities. One of the standout features of this initiative is the development of a shared computing facility equipped with 18,693 GPUs, making it one of the largest AI compute infrastructures globally. This infrastructure boasts nearly nine times the computing capacity of the open-source AI model DeepSeek and about two-thirds of the computational power used by the widely known ChatGPT.

Democratizing access to high-performance computing

As of now, 10,000 GPUs are available to the public, with plans for further expansion. This initiative is aimed at addressing India’s diverse linguistic and cultural needs through the development of AI solutions that cater to various regional and demographic challenges.

In a bid to democratize access to high-performance computing, India has introduced an open GPU marketplace, offering equitable access to these resources for researchers and startups. This platform contrasts with the typical AI infrastructure in other countries, where a few large corporations dominate the space.

To ensure a steady supply of GPUs, the government has partnered with 10 companies for procurement. Additionally, the government has set ambitious goals to develop an indigenous GPU within the next three to five years, significantly reducing India’s dependence on imported technology.

The AI Compute Portal’s subsidized rate of £1 per hour, compared to the global standard of £2 to £2.40 per hour, ensures that access to high-powered computing remains affordable. The initiative also complements India’s growing semiconductor manufacturing sector, with five semiconductor plants under construction to support AI innovation and electronics manufacturing in the country. These efforts are expected to drive significant growth in India's tech landscape in the coming years.