Puch AI co-founder Siddharth Bhatia clarified that the MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government involves no public funds and is a public-private initiative aimed at attracting investment. The startup, well-funded and using open-source AI, will offer free AI services in local languages, focusing on accessibility rather than owning a foundational AI model.

New Delhi: Amid ongoing scrutiny over its agreement with the Uttar Pradesh government, Puch AI co-founder Siddharth Bhatia on Tuesday issued a detailed clarification, stating that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state does not involve any public funds and is designed to attract investment rather than use taxpayer money.

In a post on social media platform X, Bhatia said the partnership is structured as a public-private initiative and will be executed in phases with support from external investors.

“The company has not received any funding, GPUs or other support from the government, and that citizens will instead benefit through free access to AI services in local languages via its platform,” he stated.

The clarification comes at a time when the Uttar Pradesh government has also emphasised that the MoU is non-binding and only a preliminary step.