India has taken a giant leap in artificial intelligence with the launch of ‘BharatGen’, the country’s first indigenously developed, government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) for Indian languages. The launch event was graced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at the BharatGen Summit, which is recognized as India’s largest Generative AI and LLM summit and hackathon.
Developed under the ambit of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), BharatGen has been implemented through the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) Foundation for IoT and IoE at IIT Bombay. This pioneering initiative aims to revolutionize AI development by embracing India’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity. BharatGen integrates multiple modalities—text, image, and speech—making it a truly versatile AI tool designed to serve 22 Indian languages with an emphasis on ethical and inclusive AI.
Dr. Jitendra Singh described BharatGen as a central pillar in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘India’s Techade’, which focuses on digital inclusion and innovation to transform the country’s technological landscape. By leveraging BharatGen, sectors such as education, healthcare, governance, and agriculture are expected to receive tailored, region-specific AI solutions that address local needs effectively.
A major highlight of the launch was the announcement of the Generative AI Hackathon 2025, aimed at engaging student innovators nationwide. This initiative encourages young minds to harness BharatGen’s capabilities to solve real-world problems through AI-driven innovations.
The BharatGen mission is implemented through a robust network of 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs), with four upgraded to Technology Translational Research Parks (TTRPs), strengthening India’s AI ecosystem. The mission rests on four foundational pillars: technology development, entrepreneurship, human resource development, and international collaboration—all aimed at positioning India as a global leader in AI research and application.
With BharatGen, India not only advances in AI technology but also reaffirms its commitment to preserving and promoting the country’s linguistic heritage through cutting-edge innovation.
