India Expands AI Infrastructure to Prevent Digital Divide
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced the expansion of the IndiaAI Mission and the launch of an ITU AI for Good Lab workshop in New Delhi.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia called for equal access to artificial intelligence to prevent a new AI divide during the India Mobile Congress 2026 in New Delhi. He stated that the true measure of AI success is the number of human lives it improves, specifically noting its potential to help farmers make better decisions, enable faster medical diagnoses, and allow teachers to reach children more effectively.
To support these goals, the Government of India has onboarded over 38,000 high-end graphics processing units through the IndiaAI Mission at costs significantly below the global average, with plans to add another 20,000 units. Scindia also highlighted the role of technology in public safety, reporting that the Sanchar Saathi initiative disconnected 7.2 crore fraudulent mobile connections and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator prevented over $500 million in potential fraud.
As part of the event, Scindia inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union's AI for Good Lab workshop. India is one of 10 pilot countries participating in this initiative, which focuses on developing AI readiness, policy, and infrastructure.
