On September 30, the Government of India launched BharatGen, an initiative designed to enhance public service delivery and citizen engagement through generative AI.

BharatGen is recognized as the world's first government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model project, focusing on Indian languages.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that this initiative marks a significant step towards establishing India as a leader in Generative AI.

The project aims to create high-quality AI systems tailored for Indian languages, promoting technological self-reliance.

Key features of BharatGen include multilingual and multimodal foundational models, the use of India-specific datasets, and an open-source platform.

The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for innovation that cater specifically to Indian needs and attract startups focused on scalable AI solutions.

BharatGen will foster an AI research community through training programs, hackathons, and collaborations with global experts.

A key focus of the initiative is data sovereignty, aiming to develop processes for collecting and curating India-centric data.

The project is projected to be completed within two years, benefiting various sectors including government, education, and private enterprises.

BharatGen aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, joining other homegrown AI platforms to strengthen India's AI ecosystem.

The initiative will particularly focus on data-efficient learning to improve accessibility for Indian languages with limited digital presence.

Experts, including Ankush Sabharwal, have praised BharatGen as a forward-thinking step that will significantly impact the future of AI in India.