NEW DELHI– India will significantly expand its artificial intelligence computing infrastructure by adding 20,000 GPUs to its existing base of 38,000 in the coming weeks, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Tuesday, outlining the next phase of the country’s AI strategy.
Speaking to the media at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Vaishnaw said the expansion marks a major step in strengthening India’s compute capabilities while maintaining a strong focus on responsible AI development and deployment across key sectors such as healthcare and education.
He expressed confidence in India’s investment outlook, saying more than $200 billion in investments are expected over the next two years. Vaishnaw noted strong interest from venture capital firms, particularly in deep-tech startups, with capital flowing across all five layers of the AI technology stack.
According to the minister, investors are backing large-scale solutions and high-impact AI applications, signaling growing confidence in India’s AI ecosystem.
Vaishnaw also pointed to India’s energy profile as a strategic advantage, noting that the country is among a small group globally where more than half of installed power generation capacity comes from clean energy sources, currently estimated at about 51 percent. He said this provides a competitive edge as AI infrastructure scales up and power demand increases.
On sovereign AI development, the minister said several models unveiled at the summit have already been tested and benchmarked across multiple performance parameters.
He emphasized the need for a techno-legal framework to ensure artificial intelligence is deployed for public benefit while minimizing potential risks. Vaishnaw reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Semiconductor Mission, adding that design capabilities will be the central focus of the next phase, referred to as Semiconductor 2.0.
Looking ahead, the minister projected that at least 50 deep-tech startups are expected to emerge from India in the coming years, driven by ongoing innovation and policy support.
On the opening day of the summit, more than 250,000 students took a pledge to promote responsible use of artificial intelligence. Officials said the initiative is being submitted for recognition by Guinness World Records. (Source: IANS)
