Sarvam AI Aims to Build India’s Own AI Foundational Model, Submits Proposal to MeitY

Indian startup Sarvam AI is gearing up to submit a proposal to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to develop a homegrown AI foundational model as part of the IndiaAI Mission. The initiative aims to foster indigenous innovation in artificial intelligence by leveraging local expertise and datasets.

Pratyush Kumar, cofounder of Sarvam AI, emphasized the importance of creating India’s own sovereign AI models. "If we don’t act now, we risk being left behind, just as we have in previous technological waves," he said. Kumar stressed that building AI systems tailored to India’s unique needs and datasets is crucial for the country’s technological independence and global competitiveness.

The move comes in response to the IndiaAI Mission’s recent call for proposals, inviting Indian startups, researchers and entrepreneurs to collaborate on developing foundational AI models. These models would be trained on Indian datasets, ensuring they are better suited to address local challenges and opportunities.

This initiative marks a significant step in India’s push to establish itself as a leader in AI innovation, reducing reliance on foreign technologies and fostering a self-reliant ecosystem in the field of artificial intelligence.