Swadeshi Tech Push - From Arattai to B-Schools, Education to Healthcare
The AI4India Weekly #72
This week, the AI4India newsletter looks at India’s accelerating embrace of indigenous technologies and artificial intelligence.
Zoho, a leading Indian tech multinational, has exemplified the country’s push for self-reliance with its indigenous messaging app, Arattai, which recently surged to the top of India’s app stores. This remarkable rise follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to support homegrown businesses. At the same time, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has outlined India’s vision for achieving self-reliance in AI, emphasizing the importance of fostering research, innovation, and AI education to build a robust national ecosystem. In the healthcare sector, a report by Elsevier highlights a significant increase in AI adoption, with 40% of clinicians in India expected to use AI in their work.
Despite these advancements and the growing support for AI-driven projects, challenges remain, especially in the education sector. A recent survey in India’s top business schools reveals that while AI adoption is on the rise, only 7% of faculty members are expert users. This underscores the need for structured programs to enhance AI proficiency among educators, suggesting that while the potential for AI in education is vast, there is still a long way to go in overcoming barriers to its full integration.
From personal messaging to office tools, How India is embracing Zoho’s indigenous push
Over the past week, Zoho, a leading Indian tech multinational, has exemplified the spirit of a self-reliant India. Its indigenous messaging app, Arattai, has surged to the top spot on India’s app stores. Launched in 2021, the name “Arattai,” which means “Chat” in Tamil, has seen an astounding 100-fold increase in traffic in just three days, with daily sign-ups skyrocketing from 3,000 to 350,000. This remarkable rise comes in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for India to become self-reliant and support homegrown businesses.
The success of Arattai has caught the attention of key figures in both government and business, with Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan congratulating Zoho and encouraging Indians to switch to the app. Zoho’s growing influence in the Indian market extends beyond Arattai, as IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced his decision to transition to Zoho’s office suite software. This shift is seen as a push to promote Indian-made solutions amidst global challenges.
Education Minister Pradhan Emphasizes Indigenous AI Development for National Growth
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan outlined India’s ambitions to achieve self-reliance in artificial intelligence (AI) by focusing on indigenous development. The government plans to establish a robust AI ecosystem by promoting research, fostering innovation, and integrating AI education across various levels. This initiative aligns with India’s vision to become a global leader in AI technology.
AI Integration in Indian B-Schools: Faculty Expertise Lags Behind Adoption Rates
A survey by MBAUniverse.com of 235 faculty members from top Indian B-schools, including IIMs, IITs, and ISB, shows that AI adoption is increasing in teaching and research. However, only 7% of faculty are expert users. While 51% of faculty report positive impacts of AI on student learning, challenges like ethical concerns, inaccuracies, and lack of regulations persist. The survey points to a need for structured programs to improve faculty AI proficiency.
AI Adoption Among Indian Clinicians Soars to 40%, Tripling from Last Year
A global report by Elsevier, a Netherlands-based scientific and technical information provider, indicates that 40% of clinicians in India are expected to use AI in their work, marking a threefold increase from the previous year. This rise reflects growing confidence in AI’s role in improving diagnostics, patient care, and administrative tasks. However, the report also notes challenges such as data privacy concerns, the need for regulatory frameworks, and continuous training to ensure sustainable integration.
How Frontier Technologies Can Play a Big Role in National Development Priorities
When we think of frontier technologies like AI, drones, and IoT, we often picture urban applications such as ChatGPT or smart homes. However, the true potential of these technologies lies in their ability to uplift underserved communities and democratize access. Across rural India, a new wave of entrepreneurs and innovators is emerging, adapting cutting-edge technologies to solve local challenges. From aerial plant surveys to AI-powered robotic sprayers, the future isn’t on the horizon—it’s already here.
How Seekho Cracked Monetisation Through Subscription
“How to update your Aadhaar card?” It seems like a simple question, one we often overlook. But what if we told you that answering questions like this could help you build a profitable business? That’s exactly what Seekho has done. Positioning itself as a ‘Netflix for Education,’ this short-form video company has grown to generate a monthly revenue of 4 million. Check out Dharmesh BA’s latest Substack post, where he breaks down Seekho’s business model.
Opinions & Thoughts
Commoditisation: Let’s treat data as an asset
In her recent Op-ed, Shamika Ravi an imminent economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, argues that data, like oil, should be treated as an economic asset in India. With its vast digital infrastructure, India has the potential to commoditize data, making it a tradable resource that drives innovation and keeps the wealth generated within the country. She highlights the need for secure data exchanges, standardized formats, and regulated marketplaces to unlock the value of data across sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education, while ensuring ethical usage and privacy.
Tearing Down the Barrier to Deeptech Investment in India
At Network18’s Reforms Reloaded Summit 2025, our Co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati joined a group of imminent speakers to share his views on the how to break down barries for deep-tech investment and supercharge Indian innovation. Highlighting the need for India to look at international best practices and hand hold high risk projects.
#DataDaan - Donate for a Digital India
Aligned with the IndiaAI Mission and MeitY’s efforts to ensure the availability of AI-usable data, the #DataDaan campaign by AI4India is now live on DataDaan.org. This initiative invites individuals and organizations to contribute valuable datasets, enriching India’s AI ecosystem and driving innovation across sectors. The platform provides a streamlined process for data contribution, ensuring responsible and impactful AI development. Visit DataDaan.org to explore the initiative and be part of this transformative effort.
NOTE: The views expressed by the authors are their own. AI4India as a forum does not endorse any comments on specific brands, products, platforms or companies.
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