To create an institutional framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country, the NITI Aayog has drawn up an investment plan to pump in Rs 7,500 crore for the development of AI infrastructure in the country. This funding would be used to set up five institutes or centres of research excellence (CORE), 20 international centres for transformational AI (ICTAI), along with AIRAWAT, a cloud computing platform that can be accessed by anyone.

A senior government official said that the Aayog has already circulated the note for consideration by the Expenditure Finance Committee, which is expected to take it up soon.

An official from the Niti Aayog would present a cabinet note to the new government to install an institutional framework as well as a transparent policy in place for AI growth in the country.

Niti Aayog’s CEO Amitabh Kant has already written to all ministries and states requesting them to earmark key projects across five identified sectors (urbanisation, mobility, education, health and agriculture) where AI can be adopted.

In the Union budget for 2018-19, the government had entrusted the NITI Aayog with the task to develop a national programme on AI, following which the Aayog had in June last year released the national strategy for AI. Artificial Intelligence has tremendous potential to boost the economy and it is estimated that it will add $957 billion to India’s GDP by 2035, boosting India’s annual growth by 1.3 percentage points.