India’s ambitious AI Mission has attracted significant interest from major tech players including Nvidia, Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and Palo Alto Networks. These companies are keen on the Rs 10,000 crore tender for graphics processing units (GPUs), a key component of the initiative.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reported an “exceptional” response during a pre-bid meeting held on Thursday, prompting the extension of the bid deadline by two weeks to accommodate industry feedback and clarifications. MeitY Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh highlighted that around 500 suggestions were received during the meeting, reflecting the high level of enthusiasm and concern from potential bidders.
The Request for Empanelment (RFE) requires companies to either present a purchase order or have a stock of 1,000 GPUs to qualify. The ministry is addressing concerns raised by international GPU manufacturers, cloud service providers, and data centre operators regarding the initial deadline and perceived bias towards larger corporations. Discussions included suggestions for a separate category for startups and MSMEs, and the inclusion of lower-range GPUs to cater to various needs.
The RFE’s scoring criteria are based on the financial strength of the companies, with points awarded for annual turnover, which has raised concerns among smaller players. Singh assured that the guidelines adhere to General Financial Rules to ensure only capable firms can undertake such complex projects.
Sunil Gupta, CEO of Yotta Data Services, commended the RFE as a forward-thinking move for AI and GPU cloud services, citing Yotta’s substantial investment in GPUs as indicative of the high stakes involved in developing India’s AI ecosystem. Gupta emphasized that the empanelment framework is designed to foster collaboration across the AI landscape and make GPU resources more accessible in India.
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