IndiaAI Compute Portal: subsidised GPUs for Indian startups and how to apply

Training or serving a model on rented GPUs is the largest cost for most AI startups. The IndiaAI Mission offers a way to cut it: a portal where eligible users apply for compute from Indian cloud providers that the mission has empanelled, with a government subsidy on approved projects. This guide sets out what the portal says about eligibility and how requests are handled.

• IndiaAI Compute Portal (GPU subsidy)GPUs at up to 40% lower costGov. scheme · IndiaAI Mission, MeitY · India

Who the portal is for

The portal serves several groups, including academic institutions and researchers, students and fellows, startups and MSMEs, early-stage researchers and entrepreneurs, and government bodies.

For startups and MSMEs the portal lists three criteria:

1. DPIIT recognition. See the DPIIT recognition guide.
2. Experience in AI/ML.
3. Annual revenue of 50 lacs, or funding of INR 100 lacs.

The page does not explain how these combine, so confirm with the portal before you assume you qualify. Early-stage startups have a separate set: four years of AI/ML experience (research counts) plus a letter from the IndiaAI CEO or an officer of Joint Secretary rank or above.

Registration steps

The portal describes the process like this:

1. Log in with DigiLocker, e-Pramaan or Jan Parichay.
2. Submit your details for user verification.
3. Complete your end-user profile and upload the required documents.
4. Apply for compute with a draft bill based on the published rate list, including any subsidy request.
5. Requests are approved by the Project Management and Evaluation Committee (PMEC) as per the service-level agreements.

How allocation works

• Allocation depends on your eligibility, the number of GPU hours you request and whether you ask for a subsidy.
• Requests under 5,000 GPU hours are auto-approved. Larger requests need PMEC approval.
• Requests are submitted between the 1st and 25th of the month, and the final list of approved users is published on the 10th of the next month, or the next working day.

That calendar matters: apply late in the month and you wait until the next cycle.

What the subsidy is

The portal says IndiaAI subsidises approved projects and that users pay any cost above the subsidy. It does not state a percentage on that page. Government statements and press reports describe a subsidy of up to 40% on GPU compute, and an average rate of about Rs. 65 per GPU-hour with higher rates for newer GPUs. Treat these as indications and use the portal's rate card to cost your own project.

Making a strong request

• Be specific about the workload: model, data size, training or inference, and the GPU type you need.
• Size the request sensibly. A request under 5,000 GPU hours avoids committee approval, so split a large plan into stages if it makes sense.
• Show readiness: your team's AI/ML experience, and the revenue or funding that the criteria ask for.
• Plan for the monthly cycle so you are not waiting on a deadline.

Other ways to fund AI compute

Credits from model labs and GPU platforms do not need government approval: see the guide to free AI API and GPU credits and AI startup credits.

• Sarvam Startup Program6–12 months of API creditsCredits · Sarvam AI · India
• NVIDIA InceptionFree membership + GPU/cloud credits & discountsAccelerator · NVIDIA · Global
• Modal Startup ProgramUp to $50K compute creditsCredits · Modal · Global

Sources

• IndiaAI Compute Portal
• IndiaAI compute capacity

Values are “up to” amounts and terms change: confirm on the provider’s page before you rely on them. CreditBase is independent and not affiliated with the providers named here. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.