India’s SLM moment: Why Budget support is crucial for home-grown AI models

India Budget: India's AI ambitions hinge on developing indigenous Small Language Models (SLMs) tailored for local needs, rather than solely relying on resource-intensive LLMs. These compact, task-focused models are crucial for democratizing AI access, supporting diverse languages, and driving inclusive economic growth across sectors like agriculture and healthcare. Budget 2026 should prioritize funding for SLM development.