India Leads in AI Skills, Focuses on Scalable and Accessible Innovation: Jitin Prasada

New Delhi, February 16: India holds the highest level of artificial intelligence skills penetration and is consciously avoiding over-regulation to ensure innovation continues to thrive, Union Minister Jitin Prasada said on Monday.

Speaking at a session during the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology highlighted the government’s flexible and responsive approach toward emerging technologies.

Policy Agility and Innovation-First Approach​

Prasada said the present government remains agile and receptive to new ideas, fine-tuning policies and programmes in line with evolving technological needs.

He emphasized that India’s strength in the AI space lies in its trajectory, speed, and scale, positioning the country as a significant contributor to global artificial intelligence development.

“We have maximum AI skills penetration. We have adopted a policy of ensuring not to over-regulate so that innovation thrives,” he said.

According to the minister, ensuring affordable access to critical computing infrastructure remains a priority. “We are ensuring that access to GPUs is available at the cheapest possible cost,” he added.

Affordable GPUs to Empower Startups​

The availability of cost-effective graphics processing units is expected to support young startups and future innovators. Prasada noted that India’s youth possess strong design capabilities and intellectual depth, which can be further unlocked with accessible infrastructure.

By lowering the cost barrier for high-performance computing resources, the government aims to strengthen the country’s AI ecosystem and encourage broader participation.

Scalable AI Models Over Large Global Models​

Prasada clarified that India is not focused on competing with large global AI models. Instead, the country is prioritizing scalable models that create meaningful impact within India.

He said the emphasis is on developing AI solutions tailored to specific sectors, regions, and communities.

“The country is looking at AI models that have an impact on a particular sector or region or a particular community, and that’s where India’s focus lies,” he stated.

Democratizing Technology Across Sectors​

The minister reiterated that the government’s objective goes beyond merely providing access to technology. The broader goal is to democratize technology and ensure scalable solutions across multiple domains.

“But it’s not only about access to technology; now we need to go deeper and beyond access, and make sure that we have scalable solutions in every aspect. We are rightly positioned for that,” he said.

India’s AI strategy, as outlined at the summit, centers on inclusive growth, affordable infrastructure, and sector-specific innovation, aiming to position the country as a scalable AI powerhouse.