New Delhi, June 18 -- There's no free lunch for startups eyeing subsidized access to powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) under India's AI Mission. In return for the 'grant', the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) is considering picking up 2-4% stake in the startups as part of its GPU allocation strategy, three founders of startups that have been shortlisted for the programme by the ministry toldMint.

Four startups-Bengaluru-based Sarvam and Gnani.ai, Gurugram's Soket AI Labs, and Noida's Gan AI-have been shortlisted by New Delhi to use government-licensed GPUs.

The proposed move, which signals a shift from a purely subsidy-driven approach to one that seeks the Indian government's long-term participation in ...