Analysis: IndiaAI’s Call for Proposals for Foundational AI Models

The IndiaAI Mission has launched a Call for Proposals to build indigenous foundational AI models, aiming to position India as a leader in AI development. This initiative seeks participation from startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop Large Language Models (LLMs), Small Language Models (SLMs), or Large Multimodal Models trained on Indian datasets. The goal is to create AI models that align with global standards while addressing India-specific challenges across key sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance.

The IndiaAI Mission has been structured around seven key pillars, including IndiaAI Compute, IndiaAI Innovation Center, IndiaAI Dataset Platform, IndiaAI Application Development Initiatives, IndiaAI FutureSkills, IndiaAI Startup Financing, and Safe & Trusted AI. The Innovation Center is leading the effort to support AI researchers and startups in developing India’s foundational AI models.

The initiative is crucial because India faces unique challenges in AI development, such as limited publicly available datasets, diverse languages and dialects, and complex inference generation. By fostering a collaborative AI ecosystem, the mission aims to overcome these hurdles and build AI models that reflect India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Key Objectives of the Call for Proposals

The proposed foundational AI models should:

1.   Leverage Indian Datasets – The models must be trained on diverse and representative datasets to ensure cultural, linguistic, and contextual relevance.

2.    Address India-Specific Challenges – AI models should provide solutions tailored for India’s socio-economic landscape across critical industries.

3.    Promote Ethical AI Development – Incorporate bias mitigation, fairness, and transparency to align with global responsible AI frameworks.

4.   Support Scalable and Impactful Use Cases – Applications should drive measurable societal and economic benefits, making AI accessible across industries.

5.     Ensure Government Collaboration – The Intellectual Property (IP) of the models will remain with the entity, with a perpetual license for government use to serve public interest.

Proposals will be assessed based on six key parameters:

1. Capability of the Team

Expertise in machine learning, NLP, computer vision, and AI development.

Prior experience in building AI models and executing high-impact projects.

Strong multidisciplinary background in AI research and deployment.

2. Approach and Strategy

Innovative methodologies for AI model training and dataset acquisition.
Strategies for scaling AI models, optimizing efficiency, and improving inference generation.
Use of low-cost, high-performance computing to reduce development time.

3. Data Strategy

Quality, volume, and diversity of datasets.
Plans for sourcing, cleaning, and preparing datasets, especially for underrepresented Indian contexts.

4.  Use Case Development

Creativity in identifying scalable applications with high societal impact.
Feasibility and scalability of proposed solutions.

5. Ethical and Regulatory Compliance

Alignment with India’s DPDP Act, IT Act, and other AI regulations.
Mechanisms for bias detection, fairness, and privacy protection.

6.  Financial Viability & Sustainability

Budgetary alignment with funding mechanisms (grants, equity-based funding, or venture investment).
Co-financing options from VCs, angel investors, and industry partners.
Funding & Equity-Based Investment Options

IndiaAI will offer funding in two formats:

# Direct Funding – Grants and compute credits for AI model development.

# Equity-Based Investment – Future funding through equity mechanisms, agreed upon mutually.

Entities already working on AI models can apply for funding at Early, Mid, or Late stages.

Proposal Submission & Selection Process
Submission Requirements

Proposals must include:

1.    Executive Summary – Overview of objectives and expected outcomes.

2.    Team Profile – Expertise, past projects, and key achievements.

3.    Project Plan – AI architecture, dataset strategy, and training methodology.

4.    Use Case Development – Societal and economic impact analysis.

5.    Ethical Considerations – Measures for fairness, security, and compliance.

6.    Financial Assessment – Budget breakdown and funding preferences.

Selection Timeline

Proposals must be submitted to tenders@indiaai.gov.in
Submissions received by the 15th of each month will be evaluated within one month.
The call for proposals will remain open for six months or until a sufficient number of proposals are selected.
The IndiaAI Mission presents a unique opportunity to develop homegrown AI models that cater to India’s diverse linguistic and technological landscape. By fostering public-private collaboration, investing in AI talent, and ensuring ethical AI development, India can emerge as a global AI powerhouse. This initiative not only promotes AI innovation but also strengthens India's self-reliance in critical AI technologies.

Interested organizations are encouraged to apply promptly, contribute to India’s AI ecosystem, and play a role in shaping the country’s AI-driven future.