&w=3840&q=100)
The four key startups leading the race to build India's first LLM
With the government's support, work begins on foundational models for AI services
Aashish Aryan Avik Das New Delhi/Bengaluru
Listen to This Article
India will be ready with its first indigenously developed artificial intelligence large language model (LLM) in six to eight months, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, on January 30 this year.
The move was seen as India's response to DeepSeek, an open-source LLM developed in China, reportedly at a fraction of the cost it took to create other models globally. (LLMs are AI programmes trained on vast amounts of text data to understand, generate, and process human language.)
But Indian government officials say they are not merely reacting to events elsewhere. A plan to develop indigenous
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
36 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet India's Deadliest Hypersonic Missile: Too Fast For Radars, Built To Smash Pakistan And China
New Delhi: India is preparing to test its most advanced hypersonic missile – Extended Trajectory - Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (E T-LDHCM). Developed entirely with indigenous technology under DRDO's secretive 'Project Vishnu', this missile is being touted as a strategic gamechanger capable of shifting power equations across Asia. The ET-LDHCM will give India the ability to strike deep inside enemy territory, be it Pakistan or China, within minutes and with devastating precision once it becomes operational. With a top speed of Mach 8, roughly 11,000 km/h or eight times the speed of sound, the missile can cover a distance of three kilometres in one second. This speed makes it nearly impossible for existing radar and air defense systems to intercept it. The ET-LDHCM is armed with a range of more than 1,500 kilometres and has the capacity to target and obliterate enemy installations with either nuclear or conventional payloads weighing between 1,000-2,000 kilogrammes. Its scramjet engine, an advanced propulsion system – which takes in air from the atmosphere to burn fuel, enables it to maintain hypersonic speeds for extended periods. It makes it lethal. The DRDO has already successfully conducted a ground test of the engine for a staggering 1,000 seconds. It shows India is not far from deploying this next-gen technology in real-world scenarios. Built for Stealth, Power and Versatility Different from ballistic missiles that follow predictable paths, the ET-LDHCM flies at low altitudes, can manoeuvre mid-flight and is constructed with heat-resistant materials that are capable of withstanding up to 2,000 degree Celsius. It also features oxidation-resistant coatings that ensure it remains functional in even the harshest environments – including saltwater and scorching sunlight. The ET-LDHCM's versatility sets it apart. It can be launched from land, air or sea, giving India unprecedented strategic flexibility. Whether targeting enemy radar stations, naval destroyers or strategic command centres, the missile's precision, range and evasion capabilities make it a nightmare for any adversary. Strategic Significance for India With the ET-LDHCM, India joins an elite club of nations, including the United States, Russia and China, that have mastered hypersonic missile technology. But what makes India's feat more significant is that the missile is a completely Make in India project, designed and built at the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad in partnership with private Indian defense firms. This missile provides India with a clear tactical and strategic edge over Pakistan and China. The two nations continue to conduct aggressive missile tests and border provocations. It gives Indian forces the ability to execute surgical hypersonic strikes deep within enemy territory, potentially before the enemy even realises they have been hit. Moreover, beyond military use, mastering hypersonic technologies could boost India's capabilities in satellite launches, aerospace development and disaster response – all critical sectors for national growth. The programme also promises to create thousands of jobs and provide fresh opportunities for Indian MSMEs in the defense ecosystem. When and Where It Will Matter Whether it is a land-attack mission to destroy hardened military bunkers, a naval strike against aircraft carriers and destroyers or a deep strategic assault on enemy infrastructure, the ET-LDHCM is built to deliver lethal blows with incredible speed and minimal warning. In the new age of warfare, where milliseconds can decide outcomes, India's ET-LDHCM could very well be the silent supersonic sword that redefines deterrence and defense.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Union Minister Jitendra Singh reiterates India's commitment to a resilient blue economy
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh, addressing the Monaco Marine Conference on Sunday, reiterated India's commitment to a resilient Blue Economy and pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about it twice in his two consecutive Independence Day addresses. In a symbolic show of global cooperation for ocean sustainability commemorating the 'World Ocean Day' today, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Norway's Minister of International Development, Asmund Grover Aukrust, jointly hosted a high-level event on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) aboard the historic Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl at the Port of Hercule in Monaco, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The event was attended by dignitaries, including Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, making it a significant diplomatic engagement spotlighting blue economy collaboration. Speaking at the inaugural session, Jitendra Singh highlighted India's strides in adopting Marine Spatial Planning as a key tool for sustainable ocean governance. 'We believe MSP offers a science-based framework for optimising ocean resources, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring coastal livelihoods,' he said, reiterating India's commitment to a resilient blue economy backed by technology and inclusive decision-making. The India-Norway MSP collaboration, under the Indo-Norwegian Integrated Ocean and Research Initiative, has already yielded visible outcomes. Notably, pilot projects in Puducherry and Lakshadweep have demonstrated the potential of MSP to tackle coastal erosion, manage biodiversity, and engage multiple stakeholders across sectors like fisheries, tourism, and conservation. One of India's most notable achievements, Dr Jitendra Singh said, is the launch of the SAHAV portal - a GIS-based decision support system now recognised as a Digital Public Good, to mark the international ocean day. 'This tool empowers policymakers, researchers, and communities with real-time spatial data, enabling smarter planning and stronger marine resilience,' he noted. The Minister Jitendra Singh added that India aims to scale Marine Spatial Planning across its coastline, reinforcing the nation's global leadership in sustainable ocean management. 'Our science-driven, data-informed approach underscores India's vision for ocean governance that benefits both people and the planet,' he said. The presence of top-level Norwegian leadership underscored the importance both nations place on sustainable maritime cooperation. Bilateral meetings and joint initiatives like this are expected to pave the way for greater global coordination on marine issues, especially as climate change and economic pressures intensify the need for balanced ocean use. 'As India and Norway continue to chart a shared course toward a sustainable maritime future, today's event aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl served as a fitting reminder: the health of our oceans depends not just on innovation, but on international collaboration' concluded Dr Jitendra Singh. (ANI)
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Indian astronaut completes full dress rehearsal with Ax-4 crew ahead of space launch
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to soar into space as part of Axiom Space's upcoming Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. Ahead of the space launch, Shukla and his fellow crew members completed a full-dress rehearsal of launch day operations with SpaceX teams, including a critical static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket. advertisementThe mission is scheduled to launch on Tuesday, June 10, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in static fire - a routine but crucial pre-launch procedure - was completed successfully, and teams are now reviewing the data while monitoring weather conditions along the rocket's ascent corridor to ensure optimal launch readiness. Shukla will serve as the pilot of the Ax-4 mission, which marks India's return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. Joining him are mission commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, Hungary's Tibor Kapu, and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, both flying as mission specialists. The mission's lift-off comes 41 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to journey into space aboard the Russian Soyuz T-11 in 1984. advertisement The crew will travel aboard a newly developed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft mounted atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft, which arrived at Launch Pad 39A's hangar ahead of its maiden voyage, will carry the four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom's fourth private human spaceflight slated for launch on June 8, the Ax-4 mission was delayed by two days to ensure all systems were optimally prepared. The Dragon capsule is expected to dock with the ISS on Wednesday, June 11, at around 10 PM IST (12:30 PM EDT), following a journey of approximately 28 their stay aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 crew will carry out around 60 scientific investigations spanning human health, Earth observation, and material sciences. The research will involve collaborations across 31 countries, making it one of the most internationally diverse commercial space missions to anticipation builds, the Ax-4 mission is being closely watched across the globe, particularly in India, where Shukla's flight has reignited public excitement for human space exploration and highlighted the country's growing footprint in global space Watch
