In a historic leap for India’s artificial intelligence landscape, Bengaluru-based startup Sarvam AI has been selected by the Government of India to build the nation’s first indigenous large language model (LLM). This momentous development is part of the ₹10,370-crore IndiaAI Mission, a strategic initiative to position India as a global AI powerhouse with self-reliant and culturally aligned technologies.
A Milestone for Indian AI
Sarvam AI’s selection marks a significant turning point—not just for the startup, but for the country. Out of 67 contenders, Sarvam emerged as the first startup to receive official support under this mission. This includes access to 4,096 high-end Nvidia H100 GPUs for six months, made possible through Indian data centre giants like Jio Platforms, Yotta, Tata Communications, and others.
🔍 What does “indigenous” mean in this context?
It means the AI model is designed, developed, and trained entirely in India, using Indian talent, infrastructure, and cultural understanding. Unlike imported technologies, this model is rooted in local languages and values—a key step toward Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
With this support, Sarvam will train and deploy a 70-billion parameter model—entirely within India—leveraging local talent and infrastructure. This represents a major step toward strategic autonomy in AI and digital innovation.
What is Sarvam AI?
Founded in 2023 by Dr. Vivek Raghavan and Dr. Pratyush Kumar—both former members of AI4Bharat—Sarvam AI is rooted in the vision of building AI that resonates with the soul of India. The name “Sarvam,” meaning everything in Sanskrit, reflects the company’s inclusive approach to technology that embraces India’s linguistic, cultural, and societal diversity.
The company is currently developing:
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Sarvam-Large: Advanced reasoning and generative capabilities
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Sarvam-Small: Real-time, interactive AI tools
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Sarvam-Edge: Lightweight models for on-device deployment
These models aim to be voice-first, multilingual, and capable of population-scale applications—from government services to grassroots digital inclusion.
“This is a crucial step toward building national AI infrastructure,” said Dr. Raghavan. “We aim to build multimodal, multiscale models from scratch. For citizens, it means AI that feels familiar. For enterprises, it means secure, localized intelligence.”
Backed by Government and Industry
Sarvam AI has strong investor backing and is working in close collaboration with the Indian government. During the recent launch of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), Minister Vaishnaw highlighted the project as a cornerstone in India’s growing AI and electronics ecosystem. He also noted:
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Over 350 datasets are now available on AI Kosh, a national data repository.
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Four AI tools from IITs are nearing release.
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Techno-legal frameworks are being created to support ethical AI growth.
Not Just Another Model—A Cultural Revolution
While global players like China’s DeepSeek are releasing efficient open-source LLMs, Sarvam AI’s approach is unique: It’s deeply Indian. The company’s foundational model is tailored for Indian languages, dialects, and cultural nuances, helping bridge the digital divide between urban and rural India.
Unlike many Western models, Sarvam’s LLM won’t be fully open-source—but it will be heavily fine-tuned for India’s needs, enabling applications in education, governance, agriculture, and beyond.
India’s Broader AI Ambitions
Sarvam’s selection is only one piece of a larger puzzle. The IndiaAI Mission has expanded its original GPU procurement plan from 10,000 to 18,693 units, aiming to empower a growing ecosystem of AI researchers and startups.
India’s push into foundational models is not just about technology—it’s about sovereignty, accessibility, and leadership in the global AI arena.
Final Thoughts
For AI enthusiasts in India, this is a defining moment. With Sarvam AI at the helm, India is not just consuming AI—it is creating it, with purpose and identity. As the country lays the foundation for sovereign AI, the ripple effects could transform how millions of Indians interact with technology—in their own language, their own voice, and their own way.
Jai Hind, and Jai AI for Bharat.
