The article argues that IndiaAI Mission is central to cementing India’s leadership in AI among Global South countries. The mission is designed to tackle two major barriers common to the Global South — limited access to high‑end computing infrastructure (the “Compute Gap”) and language/linguistic barriers (the “Language Gap”).
To democratize compute, the IndiaAI Mission plans to make tens of thousands of GPUs available via public‑private partnerships, offering subsidized compute access to startups, researchers, and developers — transforming what was once a privilege of rich, well-funded organisations into a shared digital commons.
Parallelly, through initiatives like Bhashini — a national language‑technology mission — India is building multilingual AI models that support India’s 22 scheduled languages, enabling real‑time translation, speech‑to‑text, and voice‑first interfaces. This makes AI accessible even to people with low digital literacy, or who speak regional languages — a big step for inclusion.
But it’s not just about building infrastructure. The article emphasises that India is deploying AI for real‑world, high‑impact applications — especially in healthcare and agriculture, sectors vital for many developing economies. For instance, AI‑powered diagnostics in initiatives such as National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) enable rapid screening in rural or under‑resourced areas; and precision‑farming tools help manage soil, water, pests — supporting smallholder farmers and improving yield and sustainability.
Finally, India’s strategy combines a strong push for AI‑driven development with ethical, inclusive governance and global cooperation. India seeks to export its model and infrastructure — positioning itself as a champion of “AI for All” for the Global South. By sharing resources, technology and governance frameworks with other developing nations, India aims to help build a more equitable and globally distributed AI ecosystem — not just for itself, but for the broader Global South.
