In a significant move to bolster India's position in the global AI landscape, Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, announced the establishment of three Centres of Excellence (CoE) for Artificial Intelligence, focusing on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities. 

The announcement took place today in New Delhi, in the presence of key figures from academia, industry, and government.

The Centres, which will be led by AIIMS, IIT Delhi, IIT Ropar, and IIT Kanpur, aim to drive innovation and interdisciplinary research, with the support of industry partners and startups. During the event, Shri Pradhan expressed optimism that these Centres would not only enhance India's technological footprint but also contribute to the global public good. "These CoEs will be key elements of global public policy and will serve as solution providers for the world," he said, underscoring India's potential to become a global AI hub.

Empowering India's AI Ecosystem

Shri Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and commitment to establishing India as a leading player in AI. He emphasized that the AI-CoEs would invigorate the country's startup ecosystem, creating jobs, wealth, and innovative solutions that can benefit the world. “With the talent and zeal Bharat is blessed with, these CoEs will create new paradigms of global public good,” Pradhan added.

A sapling and plaque were presented to representatives of the leading institutions as a symbol of their commitment to advancing AI in India. The respective Apex Committee members for each CoE, focusing on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities, shared insights into the scope and potential of their projects.

Collaborative Approach for National Impact

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education K. Sanjay Murthy, highlighted the national importance of these Centres. He pointed out that the CoEs are designed to serve not just the institutions they are housed in but the entire country. Murthy emphasized the role of interdisciplinary research in achieving breakthrough results and praised the collaborative spirit driving the projects.

Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Co-chair of the Apex Committee and Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, also spoke about the broader impact these Centres could have on the nation. "These projects will holistically benefit the health of our villages, cities, and people," he said, adding that the CoEs would nurture talent and create opportunities for India’s young professionals over the next 10 to 20 years.

"Make AI in India" Initiative

The event also featured a presentation by Smt. Saumya Gupta, Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, who provided insights into the development of the AI-CoEs. A short film titled Make AI in India and Make AI work for India was screened, emphasizing the government's commitment to using AI to address national challenges.

The AI Centres of Excellence were first proposed under Para 60 of the Budget Announcement for 2023-24, with a financial outlay of ₹990 crore over the period of FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28. This initiative is a cornerstone of the government's vision for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and aims to galvanize a robust AI ecosystem while nurturing quality human resources in healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable development.

These Centres are expected to play a pivotal role in advancing AI-driven solutions that will benefit not just India but also contribute to global progress.