At the 32nd Convergence India Expo 2025, Abhishek Singh IAS, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), made a striking statement that India must develop its Large Language Models (LLM) to cater to the diverse needs of its populace. Singh mentioned that he envisions a future where artificial intelligence (AI) serves as a bridge to accessibility, enabling individuals like farmers and mothers to receive immediate assistance through voice commands in their native languages. 

He stated, “AI has to work for social good, for improving lives, and for solving societal problems. My vision is for India to build a voice-enabled Large Language Model (LLM) tailored to our needs. Imagine a farmer in a remote village who needs advice on fertilizers or a mother seeking urgent medical guidance for her child. Instead of browsing complex websites, they should be able to receive instant answers via voice commands in their native language. AI should bridge accessibility gaps and empower every citizen.”

India's ambition to create indigenous LLMs aligns with its broader AI objectives. The IndiaAI Mission, a $1.25 billion initiative, aims to foster an ecosystem conducive to AI development across various sectors, including healthcare and agriculture. This mission underscores the government's commitment to leveraging AI for societal advancement. 

A pivotal component of this mission is the development of foundational AI models tailored to India's unique linguistic and cultural landscape. The government has called for proposals to build such models, encompassing Large Multimodal Models (LMMs), Large Language Models (LLMs), and Small Language Models (SLMs) designed to support specific domains. 

To support these endeavours, MeitY has launched AI Kosh, a unified repository of non-personal datasets intended to facilitate the training of LLMs. This initiative invites private firms and startups to contribute anonymized datasets, ensuring data security while promoting AI innovation. 
Complementing AI Kosh is Bhashini, an AI-based translation tool designed to overcome language barriers across India's diverse linguistic landscape. Launched under the National Language Translation Mission, Bhashini utilizes natural language processing and AI to provide real-time translation services in 22 Indian languages. Its adoption has been widespread, with notable applications including translating speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. 

The integration of Bhashini with other digital platforms exemplifies its versatility. For instance, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) launched Saarthi, an application enabling businesses to create personalized buyer-side applications using Bhashini's capabilities. Additionally, the Rajasthan government developed the Pehchan app, facilitating birth and death registrations through voice commands in various languages, leveraging Bhashini's AI models. 

India's robust IT industry, valued at $250 billion and supported by nearly 5 million programmers, positions the nation favourably in the global AI landscape. Analysts predict that India's AI services could reach $17 billion by 2027, reflecting the country's growing prominence in this domain. 

In conclusion, Abhishek Singh's call to develop a voice-enabled LLM tailored to India's needs encapsulates the nation's strategic direction in AI. Through initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission, AI Kosh, and Bhashini, India is laying the groundwork for an inclusive AI ecosystem that empowers every citizen, bridging accessibility gaps and fostering innovation.

32nd Convergence India Expo & AI Bharat Expo: Pioneering Tech & AI Advancements

The 32nd Convergence India Expo Convergence India held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, successfully hosted 40+ conference sessions, fostering discussions among industry leaders, innovators, think tanks, and academia on emerging technologies and market trends. The participation of ministry representatives further underscored the event’s role in shaping India’s tech-driven future.

Co-located with Convergence India, the AI Bharat Expo Ai Bharat showcased India’s Artificial Intelligence Revolution, bringing together AI experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. The event highlighted cutting-edge AI innovations, real-world applications, and strategic collaborations, driving India’s position as a global AI powerhouse.

With groundbreaking discussions and high-value business deals, both expos reinforced their status as premier platforms for networking, knowledge exchange, and tech-driven growth.