Spat Between Vembu and Pai Over AI Centres of Excellence Allocation Sparks Debate

The recent announcement by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Artificial Intelligence (AI), targeting key sectors such as Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities. IIT Delhi, AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Ropar, and IIT Kanpur to Lead AI-CoEs Across Key Sectors.

Mohandas Pai Criticizes Government’s Alleged Bias T V Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, recently took to social media to express his dissatisfaction with the allocation of AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs) by the Union Government, highlighting what he perceives as neglect towards Bengaluru, India's technology hub. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pai criticized the Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw, questioning the absence of a CoE in Bengaluru. Pai's tweet reflected his concerns about the perceived "step-motherly treatment" towards the southern states, calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to ensure equitable distribution of technological investments across the nation.

Sridhar Vembu Defends Selection Process Responding to Pai’s criticism, Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu clarified the process behind the selection of institutions for the AI CoEs. As the Co-chair of the apex committee responsible for the allocations, Vembu emphasized that the decision-making process was unbiased and involved several experts from the southern region, dismissing the notion of regional favoritism. According to Vembu, the committee’s selection was based on a thorough evaluation of proposals submitted by various institutions across India. He urged people to avoid framing the issue as a North-South divide, underscoring the importance of unity in advancing India’s AI capabilities.

Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence The recent announcement by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Artificial Intelligence (AI), targeting key sectors such as Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities. These AI-CoEs are part of a strategic initiative to position India as a leader in the global AI domain through interdisciplinary research, innovation, and scalable solutions.

AI CoE for Healthcare: Led by IIT Delhi and AIIMS New Delhi, this centre will focus on developing AI applications to enhance medical diagnostics, treatment protocols, and healthcare delivery systems. The consortium also includes contributions from IISc Bengaluru and IIT Chennai, affirming a collaborative approach that brings together top institutions across India.

AI CoE for Agriculture: Spearheaded by IIT Ropar, the Agriculture CoE aims to leverage AI to improve farming techniques, crop health monitoring, and yield optimization. The committee was particularly impressed by IIT Ropar’s projects on enhancing bee colony health for better pollination and buffalo reproductive health to increase milk yield, reflecting a focus on practical, field-ready solutions.

AI CoE for Sustainable Cities: IIT Kanpur will lead efforts to drive innovations that make cities smarter and more sustainable, focusing on areas like urban planning, infrastructure management, and environmental monitoring. This centre seeks to address the growing challenges of urbanization by developing scalable AI technologies.

Investment and Vision The three AI-CoEs, with a combined investment of Rs. 990 crore, are set to operate from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28, aligning with India’s vision for a "Viksit Bharat." During the announcement, Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted that these centres would act as "temples of global public good," driving collaboration between academia, industry, and startups. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to nurturing talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship, ultimately boosting the nation’s startup ecosystem and strengthening its global AI presence.

Continued Discourse on Regional Representation The exchange between Pai and Vembu has sparked a wider debate on regional representation and resource allocation. While Pai's remarks underscore the demand for more significant investments in Bengaluru, Vembu’s defense emphasizes the committee's commitment to fairness and meritocracy. As India continues to invest in emerging technologies, ensuring balanced regional development remains a point of contention, especially among stakeholders advocating for equitable opportunities across the country.