India’s Union Information and Technology Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has called on major Indian tech companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro to develop a custom-made mobile operating system for the country. At the 32nd ICT Business Awards & DQ Digital Leadership Conclave, he urged the companies to shift their focus from providing services to creating products, with the government ready to offer support. The minister emphasized the importance of India becoming a product-driven nation, positioning the country among the top five technology leaders in the world, equivalent to the G7 or G20.
Vaishnaw also outlined the government’s technology roadmap, which includes democratizing artificial intelligence (AI) and leading in this domain. The government is building five manufacturing units, with the first “Made in India” chip expected to launch this year. He also announced the introduction of the AI Compute Portal, which will provide researchers, startups, and government agencies with access to advanced GPUs and high-performance computing resources for AI development.
The minister highlighted the government’s efforts to empower researchers, students, and startups to develop AI models and build world-class applications. The government aims to develop its own foundational AI models within the next 12 months. The third term of the government will prioritize creating independent AI models, developing small, problem-specific AI models, designing graphics processing units (GPUs), supporting startups, and nurturing talent.
The government’s vision is to make India a global technology leader, with a focus on AI, innovation, and product development. The minister emphasized that India must not only address current challenges but also build foundations for the future, positioning the country among the top five technology nations. The initiative to develop a custom-made mobile operating system and promote AI development will be a significant step towards achieving this vision.