Centre Invites Applications From Startups To Build & Deploy Impactful AI Solutions

The Centre has invited applications from startups and researchers to build and deploy “impactful” artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in key critical areas as part of the IndiaAI Innovation Challenge. 

To be implemented by IndiaAI, an internal business division under the Digital India Corporation of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), the new initiative will see the winning team receive an award of up to INR 1 Cr and a “contract” to deploy their solution in government departments for four years. 

The application forms opened for the general public on August 13 and will be available for submission till September 30. 

“This challenge is part of the applications development initiative within the IndiaAI Mission, which seeks to advance the development, deployment, and adoption of AI applications in critical sectors. It is aimed at promoting the scaling and adoption of impactful AI solutions to enable large-scale socio-economic transformation,” said MeitY in a statement.

Under the initiative, five key areas have been identified for building innovative AI solutions. The indicative use cases include:

• Healthcare: Enhancing diagnostics and patient care, early disease detection using AI-enhanced X-rays, strengthening ophthalmology outcomes and vector-borne disease surveillance
• Improved Governance: Leveraging AI-driven language technologies for better public service accessibility and grievance redressal
• Agriculture: Empowering farmers with AI-assisted crop advisory services, financial inclusion and utilisation of geospatial analytics to improve food security
• Assistive Technology for Learning Disabilities: Early detection and support for specific learning disabilities, enhanced multimedia accessibility tools and gamified learning
• Climate Change and Disaster Management: AI-driven early warning systems and multi-hazard susceptibility mapping

The development comes at a time when the government has been actively pushing for rapid adoption of AI, with an eye on streamlining access to government services and digital public goods. Earlier this year, the Cabinet approved the IndiaAI Mission and earmarked an outlay of INR 10,372 Cr for the mega project. 

Additionally, Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada also recently said that the government had constituted an advisory group to formulate a framework to regulate AI. 

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