Why in 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.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• AI in Healthcare: Expanding Access and Early Detection
• AI in Agriculture: Smarter Farming, Lower Costs
• AI in Education: Personalised and Inclusive Learning
• Government as Ecosystem Orchestrator for India’s AI Applications Stack

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.