Executive Summary:
The Government of India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology addresses the establishment of Data and AI Labs under the IndiaAI Mission, launched in March 2024, to democratize technology use and address India-centric challenges. The mission aims to establish a robust AI ecosystem. IndiaAI, in collaboration with NIELIT, has identified 27 data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across the country. Each lab receives support of Rs. 68.98 Lakhs for three years.
Key Points / Main Content:
India's AI Strategy:
* Aims to position India as a global leader in AI.
* Launched the IndiaAI mission in March 2024.
IndiaAI Mission Pillars:
* IndiaAI Compute Capacity: Provide high-end GPUs at affordable costs.
* IndiaAI Foundation Models: Develop Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) trained on Indian datasets and languages.
* AI-Kosh: Unified data platform integrating datasets for training AI models.
* IndiaAI Application Development Initiative: Develop AI applications for sectors like climate change, healthcare, and agriculture.
* IndiaAIFutureSkills: Develop AI-skilled professionals and establish Data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
* IndiaAI Startup Financing: Provide financial assistance to AI startups.
* Safe Trusted AI: Ensure responsible AI adoption with strong governance.
IndiaAIFutureSkills Details:
* Supports 500 PhD fellows, 5,000 postgraduates, and 8,000 undergraduates.
* Over 200 students received fellowships in the first year.
* 26 partner institutes onboarding PhD students.
Data AI Labs:
* IndiaAI, in collaboration with NIELIT, identified 27 data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. (See Annexure I for locations).
* State/UTs nominated 174 ITIs and polytechnics for setting up IndiaAI data labs. (See Annexure II for the state-wise list).
* Each Data AI Lab receives Rs. 68.98 Lakhs support for three years.
Andhra Pradesh:
* Nominated 9 ITIs/Polytechnics for establishing IndiaAI Data AI Labs. (See Annexure III for details).
Impact Analysis:
NIELIT:
* Impact: Collaborates with IndiaAI to establish data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
* Action Required: Continue collaboration with IndiaAI and support the establishment and operation of the identified data labs.
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Have nominated ITIs/Polytechnics for setting up IndiaAI data labs.
* Action Required: Support the establishment and operation of the nominated institutions as Data AI Labs.
AI Professionals/Students:
* Impact: Opportunity to enhance skills through fellowships and programs.
* Action Required: Participate in the IndiaAIFutureSkills program and leverage the resources available.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities:
* Impact: Establishment of Data and AI Labs to foster AI development and skills.
* Action Required: Utilize the Data and AI Labs for skill development, innovation, and economic growth.
Andhra Pradesh ITIs/Polytechnics:
* Impact: Selected institutions to establish Data AI Labs.
* Action Required: Prepare for the establishment of the labs and implement the IndiaAI program effectively.
Key Entities Referenced
IndiaAI Mission: A strategic initiative launched in March 2024 by the Government of India to establish a robust and inclusive AI ecosystem aligned with India's development goals.
Data and AI Labs: Establishments under the IndiaAI Mission, envisioned in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India, focused on promoting research, development, and application of Artificial Intelligence.
NIELIT: National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, an organization collaborating with IndiaAI to identify and set up data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India that has nominated ITIs/Polytechnics for establishing IndiaAI Data AI Labs.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where NIELIT centres in Gorakhpur and Lucknow are planned to host Data AI labs.
IndiaAI Compute Capacity: A key pillar of the IndiaAI Mission aimed at providing high-end compute power (GPUs) to all, including MSMEs and startups, at an affordable cost.
IndiaAIFutureSkills: A key pillar of the IndiaAI Mission focused on developing AI-skilled professionals in India, including graduates, postgraduates, and PhDs in the AI domain.
SHRI JITIN PRASADA: Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 678
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 23.07.2025
ESTABLISHMENT OF DATA & AI LABS UNDER INDIAAI MISSION
678. SHRI APPALANAIDU KALISETTI:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) the criteria adopted by the Government for selecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities for the
establishment of Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Labs under the IndiaAI Mission along with
the list of cities selected so far, State-wise;
(b) the number of proposals received from each State for the establishment of Data and AI Labs,
along with the current status of these proposals—whether approved, under consideration or
rejected;
(c) the number of Data and AI Labs that have been approved and established so far, Statewise; (d)
the details of funds sanctioned, disbursed and utilised for setting up these labs, State-wise;
(e) whether the Government proposes to establish any such Data and AI Labs in the State of
Andhra Pradesh; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for the non-inclusion of Andhra Pradesh under
this initiative?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (f): India’s AI strategy is based on the Hon’ble Prime Minister's vision to democratize the
use of technology. It aims to address India centric challenges, create economic and employment
opportunities for all Indians.
AI ecosystem in India at present:
India has a strong information technology ecosystem. It generates annual revenues of more than
250 billion dollars and provides employment to more than 6 million people.
Global rankings such as Stanford AI rankings place India among the top countries in AI skills,
capabilities, and policies to use AI. India is also the second-largest contributor to GitHub AI
projects, showcasing its vibrant developer community.
India’s AI strategy:
India’s AI strategy aims to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Government
launched IndiaAI mission in March 2024. It is a strategic initiative to establish a robust and
inclusive AI ecosystem aligned with India's development goals. The IndiaAI Mission comprises
of the following 7 key pillars:
IndiaAI Compute Capacity: Itaimsto provide high-end compute power (GPUs) to all,
including MSMEs and startups, at an affordable cost.
IndiaAI Foundation Models: To develop India’s own Large Multimodal Models (LMMs)
trained on Indian datasets and languages, ensuring sovereign AI capabilities and strengthening
India’s global competitiveness in generative AI. AIKosh: A unified data platform integrating datasets from government and non-government
sources. To develop large datasets for training AI models.
IndiaAI Application Development Initiative: To develop AI applications for India specific
challenges in sectors such as climate change and disaster management, healthcare, agriculture,
governance, and assistive technologies for learning disabilities.
IndiaAIFutureSkills: To develop AI skilled professionals in India by increasing the number
of graduates, post-graduates and PhDs in AI domain. It also envisions setting up Data and AI
Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.
IndiaAI Startup Financing: To provide financial assistance to AI start-ups.
Safe & Trusted AI: To balance innovation with strong governance frameworks to ensure
responsible AI adoption.
IndiaAIFutureSkills:
To cultivate a robust pool of AI-skilled professionals in India by increasing the number of
graduates, postgraduates, and PhDs specializing in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Provision
of support is envisioned for:
o 500 PhD fellows
o 5,000 postgraduates
o 8,000 undergraduates
Over 200 students have received fellowships in the first year, with 26 partner institutes
onboarding PhD students.
It also envisions setting up Data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.
IndiaAI, in collaboration with NIELIT, has identified 27 data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
across the country. (Details at Annexure I).
Additionally, State/UTs have nominated 174 ITIs and polytechnics for setting up IndiaAI data
labs. The state-wise list of nominated ITIs/Polytechnics is provided in Annexure II.
Budget and Funding Support for IndiaAI Data & AI Labs:
Each IndiaAI Data & AI Lab receives support of Rs. 68.98 Lakhs for three years.
Andhra Pradesh has nominated 9 ITIs/Polytechnics for establishing IndiaAI Data & AI Labs.
Details of these institutions are available in Annexure III.
*****Annexure I
List of Data & AI labs planned by IndiaAI in collaboration with NIELIT in Tier 2 and Tier
3 cities across the country:
S.No. NIELIT Centre State/UT
1 Gorakhpur Uttar Pradesh
2 Lucknow Uttar Pradesh
3 Shimla Himachal Pradesh
4 Aurangabad Maharashtra
5 Patna Bihar
6 Buxar Bihar
7 Muzaffarpur Bihar
8 Kurukshetra Haryana
9 Ropar Punjab
10 Haridwar Uttarakhand
11 Bikaner Rajasthan
12 Tezpur Assam
13 Bhubaneswar Odisha
14 Calicut Kerala
15 Guwahati Assam
16 Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh
17 Srinagar J&K
18 Jammu J&K
19 Ranchi Jharkhand
20 Imphal Manipur
21 Gangtok Sikkim
22 Agartala Tripura
23 Aizawl Mizoram
24 Shillong Meghalaya
25 Kohima Nagaland
26 Leh Ladakh
27 Silchar AssamAnnexure II
The list of States/UTs which has nominated ITIs/Polytechnics for setting up IndiaAI data
labs:
# ITIs Nominated by State Nodal
Sr No State
Agency
Andaman & Nicobar
1 1
Islands
2 Andhra Pradesh 9
3 Assam 1
4 Chandigarh 1
5 Chhattisgarh 4
6 Daman & Diu 1
7 Delhi 1
8 Goa 1
9 Gujarat 5
10 Haryana 6
11 Himachal Pradesh 4
12 Jammu & Kashmir 1
13 Jharkhand 6
14 Karnataka 23
15 Ladakh 1
16 Lakshadweep 1
17 Madhya Pradesh 9
18 Mizoram 1
19 Nagaland 1
20 Odisha 9
21 Puducherry 1
22 Punjab 6
23 Rajasthan 25
24 Sikkim 1
25 Telangana 5
26 Tripura 1
27 Uttar Pradesh 49
Grand Total 174Annexure III
Details of IndiaAI Data & AI labs in Andhra Pradesh:
S.No. State Govt. ITI Address
1. Andhra Pradesh
Govt. ITI, IE, Eluru
2. Andhra Pradesh
Govt ITI Rajamahendravaram
3. Andhra Pradesh
Govt.ITI, Tirupati
4. Andhra Pradesh
Govt.ITI, Dhone
5. Andhra Pradesh
Govt.ITI (New), Gajuwaka, Vishakhapatnam
6. Andhra Pradesh
Government ITI, Kakinada
7. Andhra Pradesh
Government ITI Vijayawada
8. Andhra Pradesh
Govt.R.ITI (Girls)Kadapa
9. Andhra Pradesh
Govt. ITI (Girls), Nellore
*****