Bridging digital divide: How local AI models empower citizens and drive India's progress

New Delhi: The Centre on Saturday underscored the importance of building indigenous artificial intelligence (AI) systems rooted in Indian languages, local datasets and domestic regulatory frameworks, stating that such an approach is vital for national growth, digital sovereignty and inclusive innovation.

In a statement, the government said that as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes governance, economic competitiveness and citizen services, India must develop AI models aligned with its linguistic diversity, socio-economic realities and policy priorities.

“AI models trained on Indian languages, local data and real-world contexts are critical to making technology accessible and relevant for millions of citizens,” the statement said.

Focus on India-centric AI development

As India positions itself as a global digital power, the emphasis is shifting towards indigenous AI development that is inclusive, secure and tailored to national requirements. The government said locally developed AI infrastructure would reduce dependence on foreign platforms and ensure greater technological sovereignty.

Sarvam AI has emerged as a key player in this space. The company is building foundational AI models specifically designed for India’s multilingual and enterprise ecosystem. Its full-stack AI platform has been developed, deployed and governed entirely within the country.

Support under IndiaAI Mission

Sarvam AI is among 12 organisations selected under the Innovation Centre pillar of the IndiaAI Mission to develop indigenous foundational AI models. The company has received financial and computing support amounting to Rs 246.72 crore.

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the company exemplifies India’s potential in artificial intelligence innovation. He said such initiatives would help ensure that advanced technology reaches every citizen and supports the vision of Viksit Bharat.

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AI models tailored for Indian languages

Sarvam AI is developing large language models (LLMs) and speech AI systems customised for Indian use cases, particularly in public service delivery and citizen-facing applications.

Among its key AI tools are:

• Bulbul: A text-to-speech model available in 11 Indian languages with 39 distinct voices
• Saaras: A speech-to-text system supporting all 22 scheduled languages, including telephony audio and code-mixed speech
• Vision: A document understanding model capable of processing mixed scripts and handwritten text across more than 22 Indian languages

The government said such India-centric AI solutions aim to address long-standing challenges in multilingual communication, digital accessibility and efficient public service delivery.

By strengthening indigenous AI capabilities rooted in Indian languages and datasets, the Centre seeks to advance inclusive digital growth, enhance governance efficiency and reinforce India’s position in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem.

IANS