India is stepping up efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence ecosystem by focusing on high-quality data availability, indigenous model development, and product-driven innovation. With government support for large language models and sector-specific applications, the emphasis is on creating scalable AI solutions that can be deployed across healthcare, governance, and industry. Arvind Kumar, Director General, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), shared insights on AI and technology with Nijhum Rudra & Abhineet Kumar of Elets News Network on the sidelines of the recently concluded UP AI & Health Innovation Conference in Lucknow. Edited excerpts:

The Government of India has undertaken several initiatives to promote the deployment of artificial intelligence. Do you foresee any major challenges, and how is the government addressing them? How is STPI aligned with these efforts?

Let me begin with the broader context. Recently, Uttar Pradesh organised an AI and Health Innovation Conference, which was very timely. Healthcare is one of the sectors where AI use cases are emerging most strongly, and Uttar Pradesh, with its large population, generates a significant volume of health data.

Parallel to this, the Government of India has also organised a regional summit as a prelude to the upcoming AI Impact Summit, scheduled for mid-February. The pre-summit activities run from 16 to 20 February, with the main AI Summit taking place on 19 and 20 February. These efforts underline the government’s focus on accelerating AI adoption.

The biggest challenge for AI today is data. AI systems are fundamentally dependent on large volumes of high-quality data. Through MeitY, the government has created the AI Kosh platform, where multiple datasets have been made available for innovators. However, much more needs to be done, particularly in creating structured datasets that can be effectively used to train AI models for future applications across sectors.

Looking ahead to 2030, how do you see the growth of AI in India? Countries like the US and China are often seen as leaders in the AI race. How does India compare?

India’s presence in AI is increasingly being recognised globally. Various international forums and global leaders have acknowledged India’s potential to play a leading role in AI. The upcoming AI Summit in India, which is part of a global series previously held in the UK, Seoul, and Paris, reflects this recognition. The decision to host the next summit in India highlights the country’s seriousness and growing influence in the AI domain.

The government is actively supporting the development of indigenous AI capabilities, including large language models. Several startups are already working on Indian AI models, and the government is providing the necessary support ecosystem. I am confident that India will develop its own foundational models, along with multiple application layers and sector-specific solutions. Overall, India is well-positioned to perform strongly in the global AI landscape.

How is Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) aligned with the IndiaAI Mission, and how closely does it work with MeitY?

STPI’s journey began with a strong focus on IT services, and today India’s IT services exports exceed $200 billion. In the next phase, STPI has shifted focus towards software products, which increasingly include AI-based solutions.

We have established 24 Centres of Entrepreneurship across the country, with a few more in the pipeline. These centres are focused on product development, and today, almost every technology product incorporates some element of AI. All our centres are therefore aligned towards nurturing AI-enabled products, and we expect them to contribute significantly to the development of AI solutions originating from India.

Are there any new initiatives or investments by STPI to support AI-focused startups?

Our approach is based on collaboration. When we establish a centre, it operates through partnerships involving the central government, state governments, academic institutions, and industry. Depending on the scale and nature of the project, STPI contributes in various ways—financial support, implementation assistance, mentoring, or facilitating access to external investments.

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We do not focus heavily on direct government funding for startups. Instead, we aim to enable them to attract market-based investment. For example, under our ‘Leap Ahead 1.0’ programme, STPI invested around ₹6 crore, but the supported startups were able to raise almost ₹39 crore from external investors. Similar outcomes were achieved with Lead Ahead 2.0 also. This model ensures that startups validate their products in the market and are not solely dependent on government support.

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