India AI Applications Stack: Competing Beyond Models with Social Impact

India AI Applications Stack Latest News

• India’s AI success will hinge less on large GPU clusters and more on how AI applications improve everyday life. 
• From enabling ASHA workers to detect high-risk pregnancies, helping farmers reduce pesticide use, to enhancing learning outcomes in government schools, AI’s real value lies in social impact.
• The Economic Survey 2026 emphasises Human Primacy and Economic Purpose as core principles, calling for AI adoption to remain aligned with welfare and inclusion. 
• A national AI strategy must reflect domestic realities and ensure benefits reach all sectors and citizens.
• Encouragingly, Indian innovators are already building AI solutions in health, agriculture, education, urban governance, and disaster management. 
• With sustained policy and ecosystem support, these solutions could scale nationwide and evolve into a cohesive India AI Applications Stack, with potential for global export.

AI in Healthcare: Expanding Access and Early Detection

• Niramai: Early Breast Cancer Screening
  • Niramai has developed a non-invasive, AI-based thermal imaging tool for breast cancer screening. 
  • Unlike traditional mammography, it works effectively for women of all ages, including those with dense breast tissue. 
  • Portable and affordable, it enables large-scale screening in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Qure.ai: Rapid Medical Imaging Analysis
  • Qure.ai uses AI to analyse X-rays and CT scans within seconds, detecting over 35 conditions such as tuberculosis, lung cancer, and heart failure. 
  • It is especially valuable in districts with limited radiologist availability, enabling faster triage and treatment.
• AISteth: Remote Cardiac and Respiratory Diagnosis
  • AISteth is an AI-powered stethoscope that converts heart and lung sounds into visual waveforms. 
  • With around 93% accuracy, it supports frontline health workers in identifying cardiac and respiratory problems early, strengthening primary healthcare delivery.

‹ ›

AI in Agriculture: Smarter Farming, Lower Costs

• Neoperk: Instant Soil Health Analysis
  • Neoperk uses near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning to deliver lab-accurate soil health results in under five minutes. 
  • By analysing 12 key parameters without chemicals, it enables farmers to optimise fertiliser use, improve soil quality, and cut input costs.
• CottonAce: Pest Management Through AI
  • Developed by the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence, CottonAce allows farmers to upload pest images via a mobile app and receive instant, localised pesticide advice. 
  • It has helped thousands of cotton farmers manage threats like pink bollworm, boosting crop quality and profitability.
• Niqo Robotics: Precision Spraying
  • Niqo Robotics deploys AI-powered robots with computer vision to detect pests and weeds in real time. 
  • This enables selective spraying, reducing pesticide use by up to 60–90%, lowering costs and minimising environmental damage.
• Cropin: Digital Farming Ecosystem
  • Cropin offers an AI-enabled platform for farm monitoring, credit analytics, and farmer engagement. 
  • It supports climate-smart and predictive farming practices, transforming fragmented agricultural operations into scalable, data-driven systems.

AI in Education: Personalised and Inclusive Learning

• PadhaiWithAI: Improving Math Outcomes
  • PadhaiWithAI offers an AI-powered personalised learning platform aimed at improving mathematics performance in government schools. 
  • Within six weeks, it significantly raised pass rates and boosted high-achiever performance, demonstrating scalable potential for rural education reform.
• Rocket Learning’s Appu: Early Childhood Support
  • Rocket Learning’s AI companion, Appu, interacts with parents and children via WhatsApp. 
  • Through short, play-based activities, it strengthens foundational literacy and numeracy among children under six, making early learning accessible at scale.
• Belagavi Smart City: Adaptive eBooks
  • Belagavi Smart City has introduced AI-enabled deep learning eBooks in public libraries. 
  • These books adapt storylines and difficulty levels in real time, leading to improved engagement and a 12% increase in reading speed within two weeks.

Government as Ecosystem Orchestrator for India’s AI Applications Stack

• The government can play a catalytic role by acting as an ecosystem orchestrator for grassroots AI innovations. 
• By enabling procurement of empanelled domestic AI solutions across departments, hospitals, and schools, it can create reliable demand and accelerate nationwide adoption.
• By establishing clear benchmarks for AI use in health, agriculture, and education, the government can foster a trusted environment for citizens and institutions. 
• Standard-setting would reduce uncertainty and encourage responsible deployment at scale.

Building the India AI Applications Stack

• Once proven domestically, high-impact solutions can be integrated into an India AI Applications Stack—a unified suite of scalable, India-tested AI applications ready for global markets. 
• Platforms such as the Global Partnership on AI can support international collaboration and outreach.
• A robust national governance framework, harmonised with international standards like the European GDPR, can position the India AI Applications Stack as a plug-and-play solution for other countries, enhancing India’s global AI leadership.

Source: IE | PIB