Govt of India Extends Deadline for Foundation Model Proposals to April 30

Following an overwhelming response from innovators and researchers, the government of India has extended the submission deadline for foundation model proposals to April 30, 2025.

The move aims to accommodate the surge in interest and ensure broader participation in shaping India’s AI capabilities through cutting-edge foundational research.

"Dates of Submission of Proposals post 30th April 2025 will be announced subsequently. We thank all applicants for their enthusiastic participation and continued support in shaping India’s AI ecosystem," IndiaAI said in a LinkedIn post.

In January, the initiative began inviting startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs to contribute to building homegrown AI models trained on Indian datasets.

In February, it was reported that the government received 67 proposals for building AI models tailored for India — 20 of which are large language models.

The remaining are smaller, sector-specific models, including one designed by doctors to support breast cancer diagnostics.

Among the key players who have submitted proposals are Sarvam AI, CoRover.ai, and Ola, signaling strong industry interest.

At the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed, “Very soon, we will have our own large language model (LLM).”