Parliament Question: National AI Mission in Karnataka

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4408 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20 .08.2025 NATIONAL AI MISSION IN KARNATAKA 4408. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) the number of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and innovation projects sanctioned under the National AI Mission nationally, in Karnataka and specifically in Dakshina Kannada since 2020 including sector-wise details (agriculture, healthcare, logistics); (b) the total funds allocated, released and utilised for AI-related research and development in Karnataka along with the share of grants provided to higher education institutions and research labs in Dakshina Kannada, district-wise; (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to deploy AI-based solutions for fisheries monitoring, port logistics optimisation, marine biodiversity tracking in Dakshina Kannada and if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of the number of students trained in Dakshina Kannada under Future Skills PRIME; (e) whether the Government plans to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on AI in Mangaluru, its proposed timeline and expected impact on job creation and local innovation ecosystem; and (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA) (a) to (f): In line with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision, the Government is making technology accessible to all. The focus is on democratizing the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-world problems, ultimately improving lives across various sectors. AI ecosystem in India: • Fast-growing India’s tech sector, including AI, is projected to surpass $280 billion in annual revenue this year • 6 million+ people are employed in this sector • 1,800+ Global Capability Centres, including 500+ focused on AI • ~1.8 lakh startups in India; 89% of new startups in India last year were AI-powered • Global rankings such as Stanford AI rankings placing India among the top countries in AI skills, capabilities, and policies to use AI• India, second-largest contributor to GitHub AI projects, testament to its vibrant developer community. Building on this strong foundation, the IndiaAI Mission was launched in 2024, with a total outlay of Rs. 10,371 Cr, to make AI accessible to all across India. It establishes a robust and inclusive AI ecosystem aligned with India's development goals. Seven pillars of IndiaAI mission are as follows: 1) IndiaAI Compute Capacity: It aims to provide high-end compute power (GPUs) to all, including MSMEs and startups, at an affordable cost. 2) IndiaAI Foundation Models: To develop India’s own Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) trained on Indian datasets and languages. This is to ensure sovereign capability and global competitiveness in generative AI. 3) AIKosh: To develop large datasets for training AI models. AIKosh is a unified data platform integrating datasets from government and non-government sources. 4) 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. ▪ Currently, 30 (thirty) applications have been shortlisted. The details of shortlisted AI solution are given at Annexure I. ▪ Out of 30 shortlisted applications, two innovative AI-driven solutions in fisheries were selected for their potential to enhance marine monitoring and aquaculture management. 5) IndiaAI FutureSkills: ▪ To develop AI skilled professionals in India by increasing the number of graduates, post- graduate and PhDs in AI domain. ▪ Envisions setting up Data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India. ▪ State/UTs have nominated 174 ITIs and polytechnics for setting up IndiaAI data labs, including 23 nominations of ITIs from Karnataka. Details of these institutions are available in Annexure II. 6) IndiaAI Startup Financing: To provide financial assistance to AI start-ups. 7) Safe & Trusted AI: To balance innovation with strong governance frameworks to ensure responsible AI adoption. FutureSkills PRIME program is a collaborative initiative of MeitY and National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) aimed at making India a cutting- edge digital talent nation. Under the initiative: • Skilling, reskilling, and upskilling in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, • Big Data Analytics, IoTs, Cyber Security, Blockchain, AR/VR, etc. • Courses are developed in consultation with industry to align with actual employment needs.• Portal can be accessed anytime-anywhere to earn skill certificates in line with their aptitude and aspirations. • Accessible online at https://futureskillsprime.in/ • So far, more than 22.9 lakh candidates have registered on the portal. • Around 7.34 Lakh candidates have completed the training, including 1.78 Lakh candidates in AI/Big Data. • In Dakshin Kannada more than 5,000 candidates have enrolled/trained in various courses. The Government has established Centres of Excellence in various emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence to explore opportunities in these specialized fields. These centres provide start-ups with plug-and-play co-working spaces and access to the ecosystem. Three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Artificial Intelligence have been established with a focus on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Ropar, and IIT Kanpur respectively. The total budget outlay for these CoEs is ₹990 crores. *****Annexure I The details of shortlisted AI solution under IndiaAI Application Development Initiative are as under: • Climate Change and disaster management: 4 applications have moved to the next stage under this theme with 1 idea and 3 prototypes. Indicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution stage problem statement Early Warning Heatwave Resilience: Integrating AI-based Advanced ARTPARK Idea Systems for Forecasting for Extreme Heat Events: Integrate AI- Adverse and based climate forecasting with health data to develop Sudden Climate a targeted risk classification system for heat-health Change impacts Multi-Hazard Multi-Hazard Susceptibility Mapping: hazard Jarbits Pvt Ltd Prototype Susceptibility management system that integrates four modules: Mapping Hazard Prone Area Database, Susceptibility Mapping, Threat Assessment & Mitigation Planning, and Monitoring & Assessment. Solutions that DeepFlood: Rapid flood inundation mapping using Indian Prototype correspond to Vision Transformers and Satellite Data: advanced Institute of both indicative flood inundation mapping tool using SAR data and Technology problem deep learning models for real-time, automated flood Delhi statements detection Others: Climate Moskeet : Climate impact on mosquito-borne Moskeet Prototype and Outbreak of diseases: AI-powered platform integrates real-time Diseases climate data with mosquito tracking to predict and prevent disease outbreaks. • Healthcare: 8 applications have moved to the next stage under this theme with 4 prototype and 4 existing solutions. Indicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution Stage problem statement Early disease End to End AI Cloud Platform for Radiology Endimension Existing detection using Diagnosis: AI cloud platform for radiology diagnosis, Technology Solution AI-enhanced X- integrating innovative technologies such as CV, Private rays GenAI, NLP, Dicom, mobile, and cloud computing Limited NIDAAN (iNtegrated lung health screening & Qure.ai Existing tuberculosIs Detection through Ai At National scale): Technologies Solution qXR, an advanced AI tool for interpreting chest X-rays Private (CXR), detects & localizes 30+ findings. LimitedIndicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution Stage problem statement AI/ML enabled MafPro device platform for cancer SIAMAF Prototype staging, localization, and margins. MafPro handheld Healthcare detector provides a radiation-free, non-invasive, safe and cost-effective solution that can reliably detect and adequately evaluate metastases in lymph nodes using AI/ML based algorithms Strengthening Impactful AI solution, preventing preventable Artelus Existing ophthalmology blindness, for socio-economic transformation: DRISTi Solution outcomes using AI is a CE-marked, device-agnostic retinal screening AI for detection solution detecting 16 DR-related abnormalities and and 20 vision-threatening conditions. management of VoxelBox: SaaS platform that integrates advanced BrainSightAI Prototype conditions computational neuroscience, AI, and 3D visualization to provide clinicians with deeper insights into brain structure and function. Development of Ocellux: An AI-Based Solution for Anself Prototype Enhanced Early Diabetic Eye Screening in INDIA: Dynamics smartphone-based retinal imaging device designed Pvt. Ltd. for capturing high-resolution images of the retina and anterior segment Others: Patients AI Powered Wearable Technology for Detection & Team Pheezee Existing Monitoring Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Joint Health Pain: non- Solution invasive device that enables physiotherapists to assess joint health with precision. Others: Revolutionizing healthcare using doctor-led AI: AI- Jivi Health Prototype Enabling powered personal doctor available 24x7 and free of Private Access to cost, designed to assist people when they are sick, Limited Healthcare monitor their health through wearables, and act as a health coach to prevent diseases. • Agriculture: 8 applications have moved to the next stage under this theme with 1 prototype and 7 existing solutions. Indicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution stage problem statement Soil Testing Krishi Sah‘AI’yak - Farming Co-pilot: AI-powered Samagra Existing and Advisory conversational assistant providing personalized Development Solution agricultural advisory in multiple Indic languages. Associates Pvt. LtdIndicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution stage problem statement KissanCopilot Multilingual Multimodal personalized Titodi Infotech Existing AI Assistant for small holder farmers: Powered by Pvt Ltd Solution Dhenu's vertical LLM for agriculture, provides personalized agricultural advisory services to smallholder farmers. Rapid, chemical-free soil testing solution using NIR Neoperk Existing Spectroscopy & AI/ML models: End-to-end soil Technologies Solution testing approach leverages an offline app, AI- Pvt. Ltd. powered spectral device, and ML models to deliver timely, chemical-free soil analysis. Others: MRV: in-house developed MRV (Measurement, Varaha Climate Existing Carbon Reporting, and Verification) technology designed to AG Private Solution Credits for ensure the integrity and quality of generated carbon Limited Soil Health credits. Water and Kadalcompass - We Amplify the voice of water using Innogle Existing Fish Hydro-AI,Underwater com,IoUT with Sensor Technologies Solution Monitoring Network: 5G-enabled device that transforms fishing Pvt LTD practices using AI, IoUT, and advanced communication technologies AI-Driven Live Fish Logistics and Mortality SNRAS PVT Existing Reduction in Aquaculture: AI-driven solution LTD Solution optimizes aquaculture operations by monitoring water quality, predicting potential issues, and providing prescriptive recommendations to ensure fish health and reduce mortality. Quality of AI-Deep tech driven quality assessment of maize: RootsGoods Existing produce Traceability of the maize quality from farm to (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. Solution processing units provides unique and important value for the entire product chain in the market Q-scan: AI-powered IoT solution that captures Qzense Labs Pvt Prototype critical data throughout the fresh produce lifecycle, Ltd providing real-time analysis of food quality and actionable insights to sellers. • Governance: 4 applications have moved to the next stage under this theme with 1 prototype and 3 mature solutions.Indicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution Stage problem statement Public service ConvoZen.AI: AI-powered conversational platform Nobroker Existing access that automates customer engagement across channels Technologies Solution like chat, voice, email, and social media, offering fast, Solutions Pvt. personalized, and multilingual support. Ltd AI contact center: AI-powered technologies like Devnagri AI Existing machine translation, NLP, ASR and TTS, and Pvt. Ltd Solution multilingual voice recognition to enhance governance by improving communication and accessibility across India’s linguistic diversity. Grievance Adalat AI: AI solutions for Courts: legal tech solution Legsys.AI Prototype Redressal and leverages AI-driven transcription to automate court Technology Legal Support processes, reducing India's overwhelming judicial Foundation delays. Others: Gov.Civis.Vote: Leverages Civis' proven public Civic Existing Improving consultation framework and integrates advanced Innovation Solution Internal technologies to create a unified platform for Foundation Administration governments. • Assistive technologies for learning disabilities: 6 applications have moved to the next stage under this theme with 2 ideas, 2 prototype and 2 mature solutions. Indicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution problem Stage statement Early Jiveesha: AI-powered platform for diagnosing Specific Daira Edtech Idea Identification Learning Disabilities using advanced software and a Private Limited for SLDs plug-and-play device. ScreenPlay - a digital game-based screening tool or Kidaura Existing autism and related disorders: AI-driven, game-based Innovations Pvt Solution platform designed for early identification and Ltd intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorder in children aged 3-6. Enhanced Readabled (Online Dyslexia Training): web-based Hermit Labs Existing Multimedia application designed to help children with dyslexia Pvt. Ltd. Solution Accessibility improve phonetic awareness through interactive tools exercises. Voice fusion AI: adaptive voice cloning platform PerpetualBlock Prototype designed to empower speech-impaired individuals to Technologies Private LimitedIndicative Title of the Project and Description Team Name Solution problem Stage statement express themselves through emotionally connected, lifelike voice outputs, Solutions Adaptive Learning and Detection for SLDs: advanced IITK- Prototype that address AI techniques to detect Specific Learning Disabilities MadhavLab both (SLDs) such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. indicative Special Educator AI: AI-driven system designed to Viranc Infotech Idea problem address India’s shortage of special educators and statements support children with Specific Learning Disorders.Annexure II Details of IndiaAI Data & AI labs in Karnataka Sr. No. State Name of ITI 1 Karnataka Govt ITI Guttal 2 Karnataka Govt ITI Wadi 3 Karnataka Govt ITI Mundagod 4 Karnataka Govt ITI Ramanagar 5 Karnataka Govt ITI Kolar 6 Karnataka Govt ITI Vitla 7 Karnataka ITI Challakere 8 Karnataka Govt ITI Maddur 9 Karnataka Govt ITI Naragund 10 Karnataka Govt ITI Ramdurg 11 Karnataka Govt ITI KM Doddi 12 Karnataka Govt ITI Nesargi 13 Karnataka Govt ITI Mangalore Grama 14 Karnataka Govt ITI Kukanoor 15 Karnataka Govt ITI Talakal 16 Karnataka Govt ITI Sira 17 Karnataka Govt ITI Saudatti 18 Karnataka Govt ITI Turuveke 19 Karnataka Govt ITI Guledagudda 20 Karnataka Govt ITI Hanumasagara 21 Karnataka Govt ITI Pavagada 22 Karnataka Govt ITI Nippani 23 Karnataka Govt ITI Victalapur ********