BharatGen: India’s Generative AI Revolution
India launches BharatGen, the world’s first government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model initiative. This pioneering project aims to revolutionize public services and citizen engagement using generative AI.
BharatGen will develop AI models that can generate text and multimodal content in various Indian languages. This will promote inclusivity and address India’s diverse linguistic landscape.
The project is spearheaded by IIT Bombay with collaboration from other premier academic institutions. It is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
BharatGen will prioritize India’s socio-cultural and linguistic diversity. It will focus on collecting and curating India-centric data to ensure accurate representation in AI models.
The initiative aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by promoting homegrown AI technologies. It aims to reduce reliance on foreign technologies and strengthen the domestic AI ecosystem.
BharatGen will be an open-source platform, democratizing access to AI for innovators, researchers, and startups. This will enable the rapid development of AI applications tailored to India’s needs.
The project will focus on data-efficient learning, which is crucial for Indian languages with limited digital presence. It will also foster a vibrant AI research community in India.
BharatGen’s roadmap outlines key milestones up to July 2026, including extensive AI model development and application development. This initiative is poised to position India as a global leader in generative AI.