India is gearing up for a massive leap in the tech world. Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, recently confirmed that the country’s first indigenous semiconductor chip will be ready by the end of 2025. Alongside this, he revealed bold strides in Artificial Intelligence (AI), showing the world that India is not just catching up — it’s aiming to lead. The birth of India’s semiconductor revolution For decades, the semiconductor industry has been ruled by a few global giants. But that’s about to change. India’s journey toward chip self-sufficiency is finally taking shape under the Semicon India programme, an ambitious initiative launched in 2021 with a ₹76,000 crore budget. The upcoming Dholera fabrication plant in Gujarat, developed in partnership with Tata Electronics and Taiwan’s PSMC, will be the heart of this transformation. Vaishnaw confirmed that five essential units required for chip manufacturing are already underway and the project remains on schedule. If everything goes as planned, India’s first chip will be unveiled by September or October 2025, marking a historic milestone for the country’s tech ecosystem. India’s bold bet on artificial intelligence While the hardware is getting ready, India is also making serious moves in AI. Vaishnaw shared that the country is not lagging behind in the AI race. In fact, India is developing its very own Large Language Model (LLM) — an AI model that understands the country’s diverse languages, cultures, and context. This model is being built in collaboration with researchers, professors, and startups across India. According to the minister, the first version could be ready within the next 4 to 10 months. “We’re calling for proposals to build a foundational AI model that’s free from bias and deeply rooted in Indian culture,” Vaishnaw announced at the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave. Supercharged AI: Backed by world-class GPU power To power its AI dreams, India now has access to over 18,000 high-performance GPUs, including NVIDIA’s H100 and H200 chips, and MI325 units. For context, China’s DeepSeek AI used 2,500 GPUs, and ChatGPT was trained on about 25,000. To make this computing power easily accessible, the government has launched a common GPU facility. Startups, developers, and researchers can tap into this resource without bearing high upfront costs. Around 10,000 GPUs are already live, with more being added. Fueling future innovation: Investment in GaN research In a move to further strengthen India’s tech backbone, the government has also allocated ₹334 crore to IISc Bengaluru. The goal? To boost research in Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, which is critical for next-gen telecom and power electronics. India’s tech journey is entering a thrilling new chapter. With chip manufacturing in full swing, AI innovation tailored to Indian needs, and world-class infrastructure in place, the country is on a clear path to becoming a global tech powerhouse.
