India is set to significantly expand its artificial intelligence (AI) training capabilities by extending specialized programs to 500 universities across the country under the AI Mission 2.0. This initiative, announced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), aims to cultivate a robust talent pool to meet the growing demands of the AI industry.

The program will implement a model similar to the one successfully used in the semiconductor sector, where students in 315 universities are actively involved in chip design. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared these plans at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, emphasizing that the curriculum is being finalized in collaboration with industry experts to ensure its relevance to current market needs. The government anticipates launching AI Mission 2.0 within the next five to six months, following the conclusion of the first phase of the current mission.

In addition to expanding AI training, the government plans to unveil major research programs during the AI summit to further enrich the national AI strategy. This strategy includes a focus on a common compute stack to promote equitable access to technology, building upon the success of previous digital initiatives like UPI, DigiLocker, and the 5G rollout.

The second phase of the AI mission will concentrate on scaling these initiatives. The ministry is actively seeking feedback from various stakeholders to optimize the implementation of these programs on a larger scale and sustain the momentum of the AI revolution in India. The IndiaAI mission is designed to foster AI innovation by democratizing computing access, enhancing data quality, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting top AI talent, enabling industry collaboration, providing startup risk capital, ensuring socially impactful AI projects, and promoting ethical AI.

The India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 19–20 in New Delhi, will be the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. Ahead of the summit, Minister Vaishnaw announced that the event will showcase key advancements under the IndiaAI Mission, including the launch of selected AI models, the provision of AI infrastructure to 500 universities, and the further expansion of the country's common compute facility. He also mentioned that similar to 5G labs in universities, the ministry is building AI training infrastructure.

Vaishnaw highlighted that India's leading IT companies are increasingly focused on developing AI-based products and solutions, with over 200 AI models already developed to address specific sector challenges. He emphasized that the real value lies in creating practical, efficient, and scalable AI products that enhance productivity and capital efficiency.