Relevance: GS III (Science & Tech – Indigenization of AI) | Source: PIB / IndiaAI Mission

1. The Core Concept: “AI for Humanity”

Just as the “India Stack” (Aadhaar, UPI) revolutionized payments, the India AI Stack is a unified framework designed to democratize Artificial Intelligence.

  • Goal: To build and deploy AI solutions at a “Population Scale” (serving 1.4 billion people), ensuring that AI is not just a tool for corporations but a public good.
  • Philosophy: “Sovereign AI”—building domestic capabilities so India relies on its own data and infrastructure rather than foreign tech monopolies.

2. The 5 Layers of the Stack

The stack is organized from the user interface down to the power source:

  1. Application Layer (The Face): The user interface where AI solves problems.
    • Examples: Mausam GPT (weather), e-Courts (legal translation), and AI advisory tools for farmers in AP/Maharashtra.
  2. AI Models Layer (The Brain): Indigenous models trained on Indian datasets.
    • Initiatives: BharatGen (India-centric foundational models) and Bhashini (National Language Translation Mission with 350+ models).
  3. Compute Layer (The Muscle): Processing power (GPUs) needed to train AI.
    • Solution: IndiaAI Compute Portal offers “Compute-as-a-Service,” providing startups with GPU access at subsidized rates (under ₹100/hour).
  4. Infrastructure Layer (The Highways): Data centers and connectivity.
    • Hubs: Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad host the physical servers.
  5. Energy Layer (The Fuel): Sustainable power for energy-hungry AI.
    • Future: The SHANTI Act (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy) promotes Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to power data centers with green energy.

UPSC Value Box

Concept / TermRelevance for Prelims
Sovereign AIThe strategic capability of a nation to build its own AI infrastructure (data, models, compute) to ensure data privacy and prevent “Digital Colonization.”
BhashiniA National Digital Platform specifically for language translation, aiming to bridge the digital divide by enabling internet access in native Indian languages.
AIRAWATIndia’s AI Supercomputer installed at C-DAC, Pune. It has been ranked among the top 100 supercomputers globally.

Q. With reference to the “India AI Stack” and its components, consider the following statements:

  1. “Bhashini” is an indigenous AI initiative focused on developing a national biometric database.
  2. The “IndiaAI Compute Portal” aims to provide startups with access to Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) at subsidized rates.
  3. The “SHANTI Act” is proposed to promote the use of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for powering data centers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)

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