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India AI & Tech Daily: September 30, 2025

The past 24 hours have been packed with signals that India’s AI and tech story is accelerating on multiple fronts—policy, startups, global investments, and even legal precedent. Let’s unpack the biggest developments.

Anthropic bets big on India

Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, confirmed it’s expanding hiring globally with India as a key market. India already accounts for over 7% of Claude’s global usage, making it one of the fastest-growing user bases outside the US.

This isn’t just a talent grab. It shows that global AI players see India as both a consumer market and a development hub. The competition for skilled AI engineers here is about to heat up.

IndiaAI Mission rolls out massive infra boost 🇮🇳

The Government of India has unveiled its most ambitious AI infrastructure program yet:

  • 18,000+ GPUs deployed as part of public compute infrastructure.
  • ₹10,372 crore investment earmarked to attract global AI firms and empower Indian startups.
  • Designed to lay down the red carpet for world-class innovation in India’s AI ecosystem.

This is India’s boldest attempt to solve the single biggest bottleneck for AI startups: access to compute. If executed well, it could fundamentally change the country’s position in the global AI race.

Bombay High Court protects Asha Bhosle’s voice

In a landmark move, the Bombay High Court granted interim relief to legendary singer Asha Bhosle, restraining certain AI platforms from using her voice or likeness without consent.

The case highlights a growing tension: as AI voice models become mainstream, where do we draw the line on ownership of digital identity? This ruling could shape future battles for celebrity rights in India.

Nasscom to set benchmarks for Indic AI

One of AI’s biggest challenges in India is language. Most global benchmarks don’t account for India’s linguistic diversity. Nasscom announced plans to build localized benchmarks to evaluate how well AI models handle Indic languages.

If executed well, this could give Indian startups credibility on the global stage while making AI tools more usable for the 1B+ Indians who operate outside English.

AI surveillance goes live in Lucknow

Lucknow installed 1,311 AI-powered cameras across 250 locations to detect distress gestures and trigger real-time alerts. Authorities say this will improve public safety and responsiveness.

But the move also revives tough questions on privacy, consent, and algorithmic bias. Who monitors the monitors? India is stepping deeper into smart-city governance powered by AI, and the safeguards still feel unclear.

Nothing’s CMF brand spins out in India

London-based Nothing announced that its budget brand CMF will become an independent entity headquartered in India through a $100M joint venture with Optiemus.

The move is expected to generate 1,800 jobs and positions India as a global hub for sub-$200 consumer tech. For once, India isn’t just the assembly line: it’s the brand headquarters.

Accenture layoffs tied to AI transition

Accenture revealed it is cutting 11,000+ jobs, citing the difficulty of retraining some employees for an AI-driven future. At the same time, it plans to keep hiring aggressively for AI-aligned roles.

The contrast is stark: companies are trimming non-AI skill sets while expanding in AI. The message for India’s workforce is blunt: reskilling isn’t optional.

IIIT-Prayagraj brings AI to classrooms

In a grassroots push, IIIT-Prayagraj has launched an innovation centre to train school students (up to Class XII) in AI, robotics, drones, and AR/VR.

This is more than a pilot project. It’s part of a larger shift to make AI literacy mainstream in India’s education pipeline, ensuring tomorrow’s workforce doesn’t just consume tech but creates it.

What it all means

Put these stories together and the narrative is clear:

  • India is evolving from a consumer of AI to a strategic hub for talent, deployment, and regulation.
  • Legal frameworks are racing to catch up: whether it’s voice rights, surveillance, or linguistic benchmarks.
  • Global players are embedding deeply, but the challenge is ensuring India captures the value, not just the cost.
  • Capacity building at the grassroots level: schools, startups, and public sector projects: is critical to sustain momentum.
  • The balancing act is real: how do we push innovation while protecting privacy, rights, and sovereignty?

Final thought

India is standing at a rare crossroads. The world’s biggest AI firms want in, the government is tightening the regulatory net, and local innovators are rising.

The big question now is: will India simply be the world’s AI testing ground, or will it own the next wave as a creator and leader?