NEW DELHI: Artificial Intelligence is shifting from policy to the public domain and is influencing the future of India’s digital landscape. Its growing influence was aptly reflected at the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC), which took place from October 8-11, 2025, at the Yashobhoomi in New Delhi.
The IMC 2025 featured six global summit topics, including the International AI Summit, which addressed the role of AI in networks, services, and next-generation digital infrastructure. It highlighted the presentation of 1,600+ new use cases, including AI, 5G, 6G, smart mobility, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and green technologies. This was delivered through a series of 100+ sessions, reaching 800+ speakers. The Congress received 1.5 lakh visitors from 150 countries, 7,000 delegates, and 400 companies.
Government Initiatives and Policy Support
The Government of India is strengthening its vision for artificial intelligence through several policy-driven initiatives. Three Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence have been established in Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities, while a fourth Centre of Excellence in Education has been announced in Budget 2025.
At the same time, five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling have been established to train youth in AI-related skills necessary for the industry. The AI Competency Framework will help train government officials to implement AI in a manner consistent with global standards.
Sarvam AI, based out of Bengaluru, is an example of how these initiatives have been implemented. In collaboration with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Sarvam AI focuses on enhancing Aadhaar services through generative AI. In April 2025, the company received approval to build India’s Sovereign LLM Ecosystem, an open-source model that aims to further improve trust & services in the digital space.
Bhashini, an AI-powered language platform, addresses India’s linguistic diversity by offering translation and speech tools across multiple Indian languages. Since its launch in July 2022, Bhashini has crossed one million downloads, supports 20 Indian languages, integrates more than 350 AI models and serves over 450 active customers. In June 2025, the Digital India Bhashini Division and the Centre for Railway Information Systems signed an MoU to deploy multilingual AI solutions across railway platforms.
BharatGen and Global Engagement
BharatGen AI, launched on June 2, 2025 at the BharatGen Summit, is the first-ever publicly funded and homegrown multi-modal large language model of Indian origin. This model supports 22 Indian languages and combines understanding of text, speech, and images using India-based datasets. The purpose of the BharatGen initiative is to provide a common platform for startups and researchers to develop AI-based applications rooted in Indian culture and diversity.
The AI Impact Summit would be hosted by India in February 2026. The conference logo, along with its flagship initiatives, was unveiled on 18 September 2025. The initiatives include AI Pitch Fest (UDAAN), global innovation challenges, research symposium, AI Expo with more than 300 exhibitors from India as well as more than 30 other countries. The conference also comprises eight new foundational model initiatives as well as scaling AI Data Labs to 570 labs across the entire country.
AI in Daily Life and Employment
AI applications have now been integrated into the healthcare, agricultural, education, governance, and climate sectors. The applications include large language models for translation, chatbots and assistants.
In healthcare, applications of artificial intelligence include early disease detection, image analysis, personalised treatment recommendations, and telemedicine solutions for rural patients seeking specialist consultations. Participation in HealthAI, as well as cooperation with countries such as the United Kingdom and Singapore, helps ensure responsible innovation in healthcare in India.
In the agricultural sector, AI enables the prediction of weather patterns, the detection of pest attacks, and the control of irrigation systems and crop sowing. With Kisan e-Mitra, farmers can access benefits from initiatives such as the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, while the National Pest Surveillance System and Crop Health Monitoring Systems provide real-time advisory services.
Educational and skill-developing activities have incorporated AI on the National Education Policy of 2020. The CBSE provides a 15-hour AI package from Class VI onwards and a compulsory AI subject from Class IX to XII. The use of AI capabilities of platforms like DIKSHA has made education more accessible. The YUVAi project allows students of Classes 8-12 to harness AI capabilities in eight themes: agriculture, health, education, environment, transport, rural development, smart cities and justice.
Employment, Governance and Climate Services
The fear of AI-driven unemployment is countered by skill upgradation. According to NASSCOM report of Advancing India’s AI Skills in August 2024, it can be anticipated that the pool of AI talent in India will rise from 6-6.5 lakh professionals to over 12.5 lakh by 2027. As of August 2025, a total of 8.65 lakh candidates has registered for courses related to emerging technologies such as 3.20 lakh in AI and Big Data Analytics for future skills.
AI is also changing the governance sector. Based on the Supreme Court’s e-Courts Project Phase III, AI is assisting in translation, filing, scheduling and communication. High Court AI Translation Committees are translating judgements into regional languages and portals such as e-HCR and e-ILR allow multiple language support for legal information.
The technology improves weather forecasting systems, particularly those of the India Meteorological Department. AI models help predict rain, cyclones, fog, and lightning. The Advanced Dvorak Technique and MausamGPT, which are being developed to support disaster preparedness.
Inclusive AI and the Informal Workforce
In the NITI Aayog AI for Inclusive Societal Development report, a roadmap for empowering the 490 million precarious workers in India is provided. As per the roadmap, the Digital ShramSetu Mission aims to facilitate the use of AI, IoT, Blockchain and Immersive Learning to address issues such as language, literacy, payment systems and skilling. The roadmap states that the implementation is going to take place from the year 2025.
The Indian experience with AI is a model of balance that combines the capability to create and achieve social responsibility. Right from the infrastructure of computing to skilling, startups and social platforms, the Indian strategy is to create a social agenda that focuses on maximising social benefit. These plans will help the country achieve its objective of becoming the global leader in AI and achieve the dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
