India’s artificial intelligence market is heating up fast. After OpenAI and Perplexity announced special offers for Indian users this month, Google has now entered the race with a big partnership. On Thursday, the tech giant revealed a tie-up with Reliance Jio that gives young Indians free access to its premium Google AI Pro plan for 18 months — a package worth ₹35,100 per user.
What the Google–Jio Offer Includes
The deal is initially open to Jio users aged between 18 and 25 who are on Unlimited 5G plans. Eligible customers can activate the service directly through the MyJio app. Google says it plans to expand the program nationwide later.
The free AI Pro bundle includes access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced large language model, along with powerful image and video generation tools powered by Nano Banana and Veo 3.1. Students and researchers will also get extended access to NotebookLM, while every user receives 2TB of cloud storage that works across Gmail, Drive, Photos, and even WhatsApp backups.
Google described the move as a step toward “democratising AI access” in India, noting that the country’s young population is at the heart of its digital growth story.
What OpenAI and Perplexity Are Doing
This announcement comes just days after OpenAI said it would offer its ChatGPT Go plan free in India for one year starting November 4. Normally priced at ₹399 per month, this plan makes India the second-largest market for OpenAI after the United States. CEO Sam Altman has even hinted that India could soon overtake the U.S. in user numbers.
Earlier, Airtel struck a partnership with Perplexity AI, giving its subscribers a 12-month free subscription to Perplexity Pro (worth about ₹17,000). The plan unlocks access to models like GPT-4.1, Claude, and Gemini, along with daily Pro searches and file analysis features. Airtel users can claim it through the Airtel Thanks app.
Why India Is the New AI Battleground
Together, these moves highlight how India has become a key battleground for global AI leaders. With over 700 million smartphone users, a thriving developer community, and strong government support through initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission, the country represents both scale and influence.
India is also a price-sensitive market, which is why tie-ups like Google–Jio and Perplexity–Airtel are clever strategies. By offering free access, these companies not only win over young users but also gather valuable insights into how Indians interact with AI across multiple languages and cultural contexts. This real-world data, in turn, helps improve their global AI models.
In short, the AI race in India is just beginning — and users are the ones who stand to benefit the most.
