Shashi Shekhar Vempati, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharati and an alumnus of IIT Bombay, has been appointed as an Independent Director on the board of the newly incorporated BharatGen Technology Foundation. His strategic inclusion is a major step in bolstering India’s ambitious push toward developing sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities.
BharatGen Technology Foundation is the dedicated Section 8 entity formed to develop the BharatGen Sovereign AI project. This flagship national initiative, spearheaded by IIT Bombay, recently secured substantial funding of over ₹900 crore (approximately ₹988.6 crore) from the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The project’s core objective is to build India’s own sovereign foundational models for artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology and promote self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and innovation in the country’s rapidly expanding deep technology ecosystem. The new company was formally incorporated on November 7, 2025, and its registered office is strategically located at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
As an Independent Director, Vempati is expected to leverage his rich experience in the public broadcasting sector, combined with his deep insights into deep technology. He is also the Co-founder of DeepTech for Bharat Foundation (AI4India.Org), an initiative actively focused on advancing India’s deep technology ecosystem.
The BharatGen Technology Foundation’s board also includes key ex-officio directors from IIT Bombay, such as:
- Prof. Shireesh Balwant Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay.
- Prof. Ganesh Ramakrishnan, Professor in Charge.
- Prof. Milind Diwakar Atrey, Deputy Director.
- Prof. Ravindra Dheerendra Gudi, Deputy Director.
Vempati’s appointment is viewed as a strategic move to blend public policy, media experience, and deep technology knowledge, strengthening the mission to deliver AI capabilities that are inclusive, secure, and tailored to India’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape.
Key Highlights:
- New Appointment: Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former CEO of Prasar Bharati and IIT Bombay alumnus, has been appointed as an Independent Director on the board of the BharatGen Technology Foundation.
- Sovereign AI Project: The Foundation is the entity developing the BharatGen Sovereign AI project, which aims to build India’s own foundational AI models, securing over ₹900 crore in funding from the IndiaAI Mission (MeitY).
- Strategic Role: Vempati brings expertise from public broadcasting and deep tech (as Co-founder of AI4India.Org) to strengthen the mission of promoting self-reliance in India’s AI ecosystem.
- Foundation Details: The Section 8 company was incorporated on November 7, 2025, and its registered office is based at IIT Bombay, with several IIT directors on its board.