Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, unveiled ‘BharatGen,’ India’s first indigenously developed, government-funded, multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) designed for Indian languages, at the BharatGen Summit on Monday. Held as India’s largest Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and LLM summit and hackathon, the event marked a milestone in India’s journey toward inclusive and ethical AI innovation.
Developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and led by the TIH Foundation for IoT and IoE at IIT Bombay, BharatGen integrates text, speech, and image modalities to deliver AI solutions in 22 Indian languages. Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the initiative collaborates with leading academic institutions and innovators to create AI that is “ethical, inclusive, multilingual, and deeply rooted in Indian values and ethos,” as described by Dr. Singh.
Speaking at the summit, Dr. Singh emphasized BharatGen’s potential to transform sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance by providing region-specific AI solutions. Highlighting a success story from his constituency, he shared how AI-powered telemedicine, with doctors communicating in patients’ native languages, has revolutionized healthcare in remote villages. “This builds trust and has a placebo-like psychological effect, connecting remote regions with superspeciality hospitals,” he said.
Dr. Singh aligned BharatGen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “India’s Techade,” emphasizing innovation for inclusion. He cited India’s AI-driven grievance redressal system, CPGRAMS, as a global benchmark studied by several countries. The minister also underscored the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) in boosting India’s R&D ecosystem and highlighted flagship schemes like PM MUDRA Yojana, PM SVANidhi, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana, which empower micro-entrepreneurs, artisans, and street vendors.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was lauded for fostering interdisciplinary learning, enabling students to blend humanities and technology for enhanced employability and innovation. Dr. Singh also celebrated the rise of over 3,000 Agri-tech startups, including lavender cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir, as proof of innovation thriving beyond urban IT hubs.
The summit saw the launch of the Generative AI Hackathon 2025, aimed at engaging student innovators to solve real-world challenges through AI. BharatGen’s execution involves 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs), with four upgraded to Technology Translational Research Parks (TTRPs), focusing on technology development, entrepreneurship, human resource development, and international collaboration. A significant MoU exchange ceremony further strengthened ties across government departments and research hubs.