A quiet but meaningful shift is taking shape in India’s technology landscape as homegrown AI start-up Sarvam AI enters strategic partnerships with the governments of Odisha and Tamil Nadu to build state-backed Sovereign AI infrastructure.
The collaborations focus on creating large-scale computing facilities and local language AI models, with the aim of ensuring artificial intelligence services reach India’s population in their native languages. The move signals a broader transition, where AI is no longer treated as a niche innovation but as essential public infrastructure.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pratyush Kumar, CEO of Sarvam AI, said that “The aim of these partnerships is to drive transformation by building at-scale compute, sovereign models, and the institutional capacity to drive AI adoption”.
On February 6, 2026, the Government of Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sarvam AI to develop a 50 MW AI-optimised computing facility. Known traditionally for its mineral and industrial base, Odisha is now positioning itself as a growing centre for digital intelligence.
The facility will serve 2 major roles. As a state public utility, it will use Vision AI to improve safety in mining and heavy industries and deploy Odia-to-English voice tools to support youth employability. As a national compute backbone, the hub is expected to anchor a nationwide grid offering production-grade AI capacity to other states and national platforms.
Anu Garg, Chief Secretary of Odisha, said the shift from a “mine-driven” to a “mind-driven” economy aligns with the national vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047″.
In southern India, Tamil Nadu has announced Digital Sangam, described as India’s first Sovereign AI Research Park. Developed with Sarvam AI and IIT Madras, the initiative will include a 20 MW AI-optimised data centre.
Digital Sangam is designed as a shared ecosystem where research, startup incubation and advanced computing come together. Key projects include Vivasāya Nanban, an AI assistant offering round-the-clock advisory services to 7.9 million farming households, and a Unified Citizen Helpline to simplify access to welfare schemes and public services.
Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Dr TRB Rajaa said, “The deployment of population-scale, voice-enables AI applications will enable will enable citizens, particularly in rural tribal areas, to access information on entitlement, benefit and grievance redressal through simple conversational interfaces”.
At the heart of these initiatives is the idea of Sovereign AI, where data and intelligence remain within national borders. Sarvam AI said, “Choices made now about AI infrastructure will shape whether intelligence compounds within the country or accrues elsewhere”.
By embedding AI into governance systems, India is working towards building a Digital Public Infrastructure layer for AI, aimed at keeping the country’s data and value creation within India.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
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