Former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati joins board of BharatGen Technology Foundation as Independent Director
New Delhi, November 11
Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former CEO of Prasar Bharati, has been appointed as an Independent Director on the board of BharatGen Technology Foundation.
Vempati, an alumnus of IIT Bombay, is currently the Co-founder of DeepTech for Bharat Foundation (AI4India.Org).
BharatGen Technology Foundation is the newly incorporated entity under which the BharatGen Sovereign AI project will be developed.
The BharatGen Project, led by IIT Bombay, was recently awarded over Rs 900 crore in funding from the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to build India's sovereign foundational models for artificial intelligence.
The new Section 8 company, BharatGen Technology Foundation, was incorporated on November 7, 2025, and is registered with the Registrar of Companies in Mumbai. Its registered office is located at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
The Board of BharatGen Technology Foundation will include several ex-officio directors from IIT Bombay.
These include Prof. Shireesh Balwant Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay; Prof. Ganesh Ramakrishnan, Professor in Charge; Prof. Milind Diwakar Atrey, Deputy Director; and Prof. Ravindra Dheerendra Gudi, Deputy Director.
As an Independent Director, Shashi Shekhar Vempati will bring his experience from the public broadcasting sector and his ongoing work in deep technology to support the mission of developing India's sovereign AI capabilities under the BharatGen initiative.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally India is taking AI sovereignty seriously! Rs 900 crore funding is substantial. Hope this project delivers world-class AI models that can compete with global giants. Jai Hind! ðŸ™
IIT Bombay leading this initiative gives me confidence. With Vempati's experience and IIT's technical expertise, BharatGen has strong foundations. Looking forward to seeing the outcomes!
While I appreciate the initiative, I hope there's proper transparency in how the 900 crore rupees will be utilized. Public funds deserve accountability and regular progress updates.
Excellent move! Sovereign AI is crucial for national security and technological independence. Vempati's experience at Prasar Bharati will help bridge the gap between technology and public service delivery.
This is a significant step for India's tech ecosystem. Building foundational AI models will reduce our dependency on foreign technology and create opportunities for Indian startups and researchers.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.