In a major push to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption in India, Google and Reliance Jio have announced a strategic collaboration that will give Jio users free access to the Gemini Pro AI plan, valued at ₹35,100, for a period of 18 months. The initiative marks one of the largest consumer-level AI rollouts in India, aiming to make advanced AI capabilities more accessible to millions of mobile users across the country.
According to the announcement, this partnership will enable Jio users particularly those under Jio’s premium and youth-oriented plans to access the Gemini Pro suite of AI tools at no cost. The Gemini Pro plan offers features such as real-time content generation, summarization, code assistance, advanced translation, image creation, and voice-based AI interactions.
This offer is part of Google’s broader effort to expand the reach of its AI ecosystem in emerging markets and foster greater digital inclusion. By partnering with Reliance Jio, which operates the country’s largest mobile network, Google is expected to reach tens of millions of Indian users who may be experiencing generative AI for the first time.
“India’s digital ecosystem continues to grow rapidly, and we’re excited to deepen our partnership with Reliance Jio to make generative AI available to everyone,” a Google spokesperson said. “Gemini Pro’s accessibility to Jio users reflects our commitment to empowering the next billion users with intelligent, useful, and safe AI experiences.”
The Gemini Pro subscription, which typically costs around ₹1,950 per month, includes tools that integrate across Google’s ecosystem such as Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and YouTube providing AI-powered assistance for both personal and professional productivity. The suite competes directly with global AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus.
Reliance Jio, known for democratizing internet access in India since its launch in 2016, sees this initiative as an extension of its digital empowerment mission. “We believe AI will be central to India’s digital growth story,” said a senior Jio official. “This partnership with Google brings cutting-edge AI tools directly into the hands of our users, enabling them to learn, create, and innovate at scale.”
The partnership follows years of collaboration between Google and Reliance. In 2020, Google invested $4.5 billion in Jio Platforms as part of its India Digitization Fund, aiming to advance affordable internet access and digital transformation. Since then, the two companies have jointly developed the JioPhone Next, an affordable smartphone tailored for Indian users, and worked together on 5G readiness and localized cloud services.
Industry experts see the latest collaboration as a continuation of that vision—bridging AI access gaps in a rapidly expanding digital economy. “This move positions Jio as a key enabler of AI democratization in India,” said an independent analyst. “For Google, it reinforces its foothold in a crucial growth market while expanding Gemini’s user base significantly.”
Under the new initiative, eligible Jio customers will receive a redeemable access code through the MyJio app, which will allow them to activate their free Gemini Pro plan. The rollout will begin in phases, starting with students, creators, and professionals enrolled in select Jio programs. The AI subscription includes access to Gemini Pro via web and mobile, integration with Google Workspace, and early testing options for new AI features.
Gemini Pro, powered by Google DeepMind’s multimodal AI engine, supports a variety of input formats including text, voice, and image. It has been designed to provide personalized and context-aware responses for users in multiple languages, with support for Indic languages expected to expand soon.
The partnership comes at a time when India’s AI adoption is accelerating across sectors such as finance, education, healthcare, and marketing. According to a NASSCOM report, the Indian AI market is projected to grow to $17 billion by 2027, driven by both enterprise and consumer use cases. Offering free access to AI tools like Gemini Pro could help catalyze broader user engagement and skill development across demographics.
The collaboration also underscores Google’s ongoing focus on India as a testing ground for large-scale AI products. Earlier this year, the company launched its AI-powered search enhancements in Hindi and other regional languages, and it continues to integrate Gemini models into its suite of services such as Chrome and Android.
Reliance Jio, for its part, has been making parallel investments in AI infrastructure and data centers through its tech arm, Jio Platforms. The company is working to develop India-centric AI applications in partnership with global and domestic firms, with a strong emphasis on affordability and scalability.
Digital analysts note that the Gemini Pro offer could also serve as an entry point for users to explore premium AI capabilities, potentially reshaping how Indians interact with productivity and creative tools. “Free access eliminates the initial cost barrier, allowing millions of users to experience the value of generative AI firsthand,” said a Mumbai-based technology consultant.
Both companies have clarified that the program will maintain strict data privacy protocols. Google stated that user data will not be used to train AI models without explicit consent, in line with its responsible AI policies and compliance with India’s data protection laws.
As India positions itself as a global AI innovation hub, partnerships like this are becoming increasingly common among major technology firms. The Google-Jio collaboration is being viewed as a strategic step toward building an AI-enabled consumer base ready for the next phase of digital transformation.
The free Gemini Pro access for Jio users will officially begin on November 4, with broader rollout expected by the end of the year. Both companies said they will continue to explore additional AI-focused initiatives in areas such as education, content creation, and small business enablement.