In an unexpected development, the Indian government’s decision to establish three new AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs) has stirred controversy, sidelining Bengaluru, a city often celebrated as the nation’s tech capital. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Mohandas Pai, former CFO of Infosys, who took to social media to express his discontent, accusing the central government of neglecting the city despite its significant contributions to India’s technology sector.
The newly announced AI CoEs will focus on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities, and are set to be located at AIIMS Delhi, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Ropar. The absence of Bengaluru from this list has not gone unnoticed, igniting a public debate around regional bias and meritocracy.
Mohandas Pai’s outburst, which quickly gained traction, highlighted the perceived regional imbalance, questioning why Bengaluru was left out despite its political support for the ruling NDA. His comments suggested that the city was receiving “stepmotherly treatment” and called out the Congress-led Karnataka government for insufficient investment in Bengaluru’s infrastructure.
In response, Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho and co-chair of the selection panel for the AI CoE locations, defended the decision as being based on merit rather than regional favoritism. Vembu urged against politicizing the process, emphasizing that South Indian institutions, including IISc Bengaluru and IIT Madras, are part of the broader AI initiative.
Supporting Vembu’s stance, Manish Gupta, Director at Google DeepMind and a selection panel member, reiterated that the decision prioritized national interest. Gupta maintained that the chosen locations were best suited to meet the project’s objectives.
Despite these clarifications, the controversy has resonated with many in Bengaluru, who see it as part of a broader pattern of neglect towards South India. The incident has rekindled regional tensions, with concerns about marginalization becoming a recurring theme in discussions about national projects.
This public spat between Pai, representing India’s IT legacy, and Vembu, a figurehead of its entrepreneurial future, underscores the underlying tensions in India’s development narrative. The debate has transcended the immediate issue of AI hubs, evolving into a broader discussion on regional representation and balanced development across the country.
As the discourse unfolds, the controversy over the AI CoEs could shape future policies, reflecting the complex interplay between technology leadership and regional identity in India. Whether seen as a missed opportunity for Bengaluru or a strategic decision based on merit, the situation has ignited conversations on the need for inclusive growth in India’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.
