Govt Allocates Rs. 990 Crore for 3 AI Centres of Excellence in Healthcare, Agriculture and Sustainable Cities

Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, unveiled the establishment of three Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence (AI-CoEs) in New Delhi, focusing on Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities. These AI-CoEs aim to advance India's global standing in AI, while contributing to public welfare and sustainable development.

During the event, Pradhan presented a sapling and a plaque to representatives from AIIMS and the leading IITs- Delhi, Ropar, and Kanpur- that will head the three AI-CoEs. These centres will focus on interdisciplinary research and collaborate with startups and industry partners to develop innovative, scalable solutions in their respective fields.

In his address, Pradhan emphasized the potential of the AI-CoEs to become "temples of global public good," contributing significantly to India’s credentials in AI and its role in shaping global public policy. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of establishing India as a global AI hub and expressed confidence that these centres would support the country’s startup ecosystem, create new jobs, and empower the next generation of innovators.

K. Sanjay Murthy underscored the importance of collaboration in maximizing the impact of the AI-CoEs, noting that these centres are not just limited to academic institutions but will benefit the entire nation. Dr. Sridhar Vembu echoed this sentiment, highlighting the long-term benefits of nurturing India’s talent pool and fostering innovation to serve the country for decades to come.

The announcement of the AI-CoEs aligns with the Government of India’s vision of "Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India" and follows the budget announcement for 2023-24. The project will receive a financial outlay of Rs 990 crore over the next five years, to create an effective AI ecosystem that drives research, technological development, and job creation across the healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities sectors.

The launch also included a presentation by Saumya Gupta, Joint Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, outlining the development and objectives of the AI-CoEs. A short film on the theme of "Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India" was also screened, emphasizing the transformative potential of AI for India's future.

The launch event was attended by prominent figures, including K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education; Sridhar Vembu, Co-chair of the Apex Committee and CEO of Zoho Corporation; Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum; Rajan Anandan, MD of PeakXV Partners and Surge; Srikanth Nadhamuni, CEO of Khosla Labs; Dr. Praveen Pankajakshan, Head of Cropin AI Labs; as well as directors of leading IITs, higher educational institutions, and industry leaders.