India launches BharatGen: Pioneering AI Initiative to transform Public Services

India has launched BharatGen, a government-backed initiative set for public service delivery and enhancing citizen engagement through generative AI. In a virtual ceremony, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, unveiled BharatGen, marking the world’s first government-supported Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) project. BharatGen is designed to develop foundational AI models in language, speech, and computer vision to cater to India’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Singh highlighted the importance of BharatGen in advancing India's technological self-reliance. "Much like UPI, BharatGen positions India as a global leader in generative AI. It will address not only the technological but also the socio-cultural needs of the country," he said. The initiative is poised to play a key role in India’s efforts to strengthen its AI capabilities while serving as a model for the world.

Key Features of BharatGen

BharatGen stands out through its innovative and inclusive approach, emphasizing four key features:

• Multilingual and Multimodal Models: BharatGen’s AI models will be designed to process and generate text, speech, and visual content in various Indian languages, helping to preserve and promote linguistic diversity.
• India-Centric Dataset: The project will focus on collecting and curating datasets unique to India’s linguistic and cultural landscape, strengthening the country’s control over its digital resources and ensuring data sovereignty.
• Open-Source Development: BharatGen will operate on an open-source platform, allowing researchers, innovators, and startups to access AI tools and build applications with minimal costs and resources.
• Generative AI Research Ecosystem: The initiative aims to foster a vibrant AI research community in India, promoting collaboration through hackathons, training programs, and partnerships with global experts.

Supported by Top Institutions

BharatGen is being spearheaded by IIT Bombay, under the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The project is a collaborative effort with academic partners from premier institutes, including IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Mandi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIM Indore, and IIT Madras.

The core focus of BharatGen is to develop AI systems capable of generating high-quality text and multimodal content in multiple Indian languages. By addressing India's linguistic diversity, the initiative will help fill a critical gap in global AI models, which often underrepresent languages from developing nations. BharatGen’s models will be trained on India-centric datasets, ensuring they accurately reflect the cultural and linguistic nuances of the country.

A Push for Technological Self-Reliance

BharatGen aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, with a clear focus on developing indigenous AI technologies that reduce reliance on foreign systems. And, it will strengthen the domestic AI ecosystem by providing startups, industries, and government agencies with the tools to scale AI adoption across sectors.

"AI is not just for commercial gain but for addressing the broader needs of society," said Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology. He pointed out that BharatGen prioritizes inclusive technology development, ensuring that even underserved communities benefit from AI advancements.

One of the standout aspects of this initiative is its emphasis on data-efficient learning, particularly for Indian languages that have limited digital presence. By developing AI models that can operate effectively with minimal data, the initiative will make significant strides in supporting languages that have been overlooked by global AI models.

Empowering the Future of AI in India

Looking ahead, BharatGen has mapped out an ambitious plan leading up to July 2026. The initiative aims to create a suite of foundational models that can be applied across industries, enhancing public services and driving AI adoption. Key milestones include model development, experimentation, and the establishment of AI benchmarks tailored to India’s needs.