Google Cloud India and the TechBharat Research Foundation have launched India’s first AI Centre of Excellence for Public Good in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This landmark initiative aims to accelerate the IndiaAI Mission by developing AI-driven solutions to critical public sector challenges, including governance, citizen services, disaster response, education, land management, and security.
The centre will also nurture India’s next generation of AI innovators through the TechBharat AI Fellowship. This intensive, full-time program runs three times a year and trains over 80 fellows and 100 interns annually through a 120-day on-site curriculum. Fellows receive stipends and accommodation as they collaborate directly with government departments to build deployable AI prototypes addressing real-world problems.
Google Cloud supports this initiative by providing enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure, mentorship from technical and business experts, and resources through its Google for Startups Cloud program. This partnership aims to create scalable, responsible AI solutions that can be implemented across India’s public services.
Sridhar Gadhi, founder of TechBharat Foundation, emphasized the collaboration as a symbol of India’s readiness to lead global efforts in ethical and socially impactful AI. Ashish Wattal, Director of Public Sector at Google Cloud India, highlighted the initiative’s potential to harness technology and talent to address pressing challenges in the public sector.
The inaugural cohort of TechBharat AI Fellows will begin in October 2025, focusing on project challenges proposed by departments involved in disaster management, industries and commerce, education, citizen services, and real-time governance. Subsequent cohorts will scale up the adoption of responsible AI solutions, contributing extensively to India’s digital transformation agenda.
The launch of this centre sets a new precedent for AI-driven public good initiatives in India. By combining cutting-edge technology, collaborative innovation, and focused skill development, it promises to address societal challenges effectively and ethically.
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