India’s technology ambitions are no longer limited to policy announcements, they are now translating into capital flows, institutional reforms, and global positioning. At the center of this transformation is the IndiaAI Mission, a flagship initiative that is reshaping AI in India while influencing private sector investment and deep tech growth across multiple domains. Information submitted in the Lok Sabha on February 11, 2026, by Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw outlines how government-backed reforms and funding mechanisms are strengthening India’s AI and space technology ecosystem. For global observers, the scale and coordination of these efforts signal a strategic push to position India as a long-term technology powerhouse.

IndiaAI Mission Lays Foundation for AI in India

Launched in March 2024 with an outlay of ₹10,372 crore, the IndiaAI Mission aims to build a comprehensive AI ecosystem. In less than two years, the initiative has delivered measurable progress. More than 38,000 GPUs have been onboarded to create a common compute facility accessible to startups and academic institutions at affordable rates. Twelve teams have been shortlisted to develop indigenous foundational models or Large Language Models (LLMs), while 30 applications have been approved to build India-specific AI solutions. Talent development remains central to the IndiaAI Mission. Over 8,000 undergraduate students, 5,000 postgraduate students, and 500 PhD scholars are currently being supported. Additionally, 27 India Data and AI Labs have been established, with 543 more identified for development. India’s AI ecosystem is also earning global recognition. The Stanford Global AI Vibrancy 2025 report ranks India third worldwide in AI competitiveness and ecosystem vibrancy. The country is also the second-largest contributor to GitHub AI projects—evidence of a strong developer community driving AI in India from the ground up.

Private Sector Investment in AI Gains Speed

Encouraged by the IndiaAI Mission and broader reforms, private sector investment in AI is rising steadily. According to the Stanford AI Index Report 2025, India’s cumulative private investment in AI between 2013 and 2024 reached approximately $11.1 billion. Recent announcements underscore this momentum. Google revealed plans to establish a major AI Hub in Visakhapatnam with an investment of around $15 billion—its largest commitment in India so far. Tata Group has also announced an $11 billion AI innovation city in Maharashtra. These developments suggest that AI in India is moving beyond research output toward large-scale commercial infrastructure. The upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, to be held in New Delhi, will further position India within the global AI debate. Notably, it will be the first time the global AI summit series takes place in the Global South, signaling a shift toward more inclusive technology governance.

Deep Tech Push Backed by RDI Fund and Policy Reforms

Beyond AI, the government is reinforcing the broader deep tech sector through funding and policy clarity. A ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been announced to support high-risk, high-impact projects. The National Deep Tech Startup Policy addresses long-standing challenges in funding access, intellectual property, infrastructure, and commercialization. Under Startup India, deep tech firms now enjoy extended eligibility periods and higher turnover thresholds for tax benefits and government support. These structural changes aim to strengthen India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), currently at 0.64% of GDP. Encouragingly, India’s position in the Global Innovation Index has climbed from 81st in 2015 to 38th in 2025—an indicator that reforms are yielding measurable outcomes.

Space Sector Reforms Expand India’s Global Footprint

Parallel to AI in India, the government is also expanding its ambitions in space technology. The Indian Space Policy 2023 clearly defines the roles of ISRO, IN-SPACe, and private industry, opening the entire space value chain to commercial participation. IN-SPACe now operates as a single-window agency authorizing non-government space activities and facilitating access to ISRO’s infrastructure. A ₹1,000 crore venture capital fund and a ₹500 crore Technology Adoption Fund are supporting early-stage and scaling space startups. Foreign Direct Investment norms have been liberalized, permitting up to 100% FDI in satellite manufacturing and components. Through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the country is expanding its presence in the global commercial launch market, particularly for small and medium satellites. The government’s collaboration between ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology in space biotechnology—including microgravity research and space bio-manufacturing—signals how interdisciplinary innovation is becoming a national priority.

A Strategic Inflection Point for AI in India

Taken together, the IndiaAI Mission, private sector investment in AI, deep tech reforms, and space sector liberalization form a coordinated architecture. This is not merely about technology adoption—it is about long-term capability building. For global readers, India’s approach offers an interesting case study: sustained public investment paired with regulatory clarity and private capital participation. While challenges such as research intensity and commercialization gaps remain, the trajectory is clear. The IndiaAI Mission has become more than a policy initiative, it is emerging as a structural driver of AI in India and a signal of the country’s broader technological ambitions in the decade ahead.

India has taken another step toward expanding AI literacy in India with the launch of Kaushal Rath under the national programme Yuva AI for All. Flagged off from India Gate in New Delhi, the mobile initiative aims to bring foundational Artificial Intelligence (AI) education directly to students, youth, and educators, particularly in semi-urban and underserved regions. For a country positioning itself as a global digital leader, the message behind Yuva AI for All is clear: AI cannot remain limited to elite institutions or metro cities. If Artificial Intelligence is to shape economies and governance, it must be understood by the wider population.

Yuva AI for All: Taking AI to the Doorstep

Launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the IndiaAI Mission in collaboration with AISECT, Yuva AI for All focuses on democratising access to AI education. Launching the initiative, the Minister of State Jitin Prasada stated, “Through the Yuva AI for All initiative and the Kaushal Rath, we are taking AI awareness directly across the country, especially to young people. The bus will travel across regions to familiarise students and youth with the uses and benefits of Artificial Intelligence, fulfilling the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring that awareness and access to opportunity transcend geography and demography.” Adding to this, he also said that “The Yuva AI for All with Kaushal Rath initiative is a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which is set to take place in New Delhi next week. It is a great pride for India to be hosting a Summit of this kind for the first time, to be held in the Global South. “ [caption id="attachment_109449" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image Source: PIB[/caption] At the centre of this effort is Kaushal Rath, a fully equipped mobile computer lab with internet-enabled systems and audio-visual tools. The vehicle will travel across Delhi-NCR and later other regions, visiting schools, ITIs, colleges, and community spaces. The aim is not abstract policy messaging, but practical exposure—hands-on demonstrations of AI and Generative AI tools, guided by trained facilitators and contextualised Indian use cases. The course structure is intentionally accessible. It is a four-hour, self-paced programme with six modules, requiring zero coding background. Participants learn AI concepts, ethics, and real-world applications. Upon completion, they receive certification, a move designed to add tangible value to academic and professional profiles. Kavita Bhatia, Scientist G, MeitY and COO of IndiaAI Mission highlighted, “Under the IndiaAI Mission, skilling is one of the seven core pillars, and this initiative advances our goal of democratising AI education at scale. Through Kaushal Rath, we are enabling hands-on AI learning for students across institutions using connected systems, AI tools, and structured courses, including the YuvAI for All programme designed to demystify AI. By combining instructor-led training, micro- and nano-credentials, and nationwide outreach, we are ensuring that AI skilling becomes accessible to learners across regions.” In a global context, this matters. Many nations speak of AI readiness, but few actively drive AI education beyond established technology hubs. Yuva AI for All attempts to bridge that gap.

Building Momentum Toward the India AI Impact Summit 2026

The launch of Yuva AI for All and Kaushal Rath also builds momentum toward the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from February 16–20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Positioned as the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, the event is anchored on three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. The summit aims to translate global AI discussions into development-focused outcomes aligned with India’s national priorities. But what distinguishes this effort is its nationwide groundwork. Over the past months, seven Regional AI Conferences were conducted across Meghalaya, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kerala under the IndiaAI Mission. These conferences focused on practical AI deployment in governance, healthcare, agriculture, education, language technologies, and public service delivery. Policymakers, startups, academia, industry leaders, and civil society participated, ensuring that discussions were not limited to theory. Insights from these regional consultations will directly shape the agenda of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

A Nationwide AI Push, Not Just a Summit

Several major announcements emerged from the regional conferences. Among them:

• A commitment to train one million youth under Yuva AI for All
• Expansion of AI Data Labs and AI Labs in ITIs and polytechnics
• Launch of Rajasthan’s AI/ML Policy 2026
• Announcement of the Uttar Pradesh AI Mission
• Introduction of Madhya Pradesh’s SpaceTech Policy 2026 integrating AI
• Signing of MoUs with institutions including Google, IIT Delhi, and National Law University, Jodhpur
• Rollout of AI Stacks and cloud adoption frameworks for state-level governance

These developments suggest that India’s AI roadmap is not confined to policy speeches. It is being operationalised across states, with funding commitments and institutional backing. For global observers, this signals something important. Emerging economies are not merely consumers of AI technologies—they are actively shaping governance models and skilling frameworks suited to their socio-economic realities.

Why AI Literacy in India Matters Globally

Artificial Intelligence is often discussed in terms of advanced research and frontier innovation. Yet the real challenge is adoption—ensuring people understand what AI is, what it can do, and how it should be used responsibly. By launching Yuva AI for All, India is placing emphasis on foundational awareness, not just high-end research. That approach reflects a broader recognition: AI will influence public service delivery, agriculture systems, healthcare models, and digital governance worldwide. Without widespread literacy, the risk of exclusion grows. At the same time, scaling AI education in a country as large and diverse as India is no small task. The success of Kaushal Rath will depend on sustained outreach, quality training, and long-term institutional support. Still, the initiative marks a visible shift. AI is no longer framed as a specialist subject—it is being positioned as a public capability. As preparations intensify for the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Yuva AI for All stands out as a reminder that AI’s future will not be shaped only in boardrooms or research labs, but also in classrooms, ITIs, and community spaces across regions often left out of the digital conversation.