OpenAI says India has overtaken every other country on weekly ChatGPT users, and its next moves include UPI payments, more Indian languages and ads.
Key takeaways
- India is now ChatGPT’s largest market in the world by weekly active users, according to OpenAI India MD Prabhjeet Singh.
- OpenAI says the Indian user base has doubled since January 2026. In February, it had put India at more than 100 million weekly users.
- UPI and payments announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
- OpenAI is pushing Indian languages, voice input and an Android-first approach that works on entry-level phones.
- Ads on ChatGPT are expanding in India, with Razorpay helping brands run campaigns.
Is India really ChatGPT’s biggest market now? Yes. OpenAI’s India managing director, Prabhjeet Singh, told The Economic Times this week that India has become ChatGPT’s largest market globally by weekly active users, and that the number of Indian users has doubled since January 2026. As recently as February, OpenAI ranked India second.
What exactly did OpenAI say?
Singh, who took charge of OpenAI’s India business earlier this year, shared the update in his first media interview since joining. He said the Indian user base is doubling in less than a year, and described people building ChatGPT into everyday work rather than trying it once and leaving.
OpenAI did not share a new absolute number. The last official figure came in February 2026, when the company said India had crossed 100 million weekly users and was its second-largest market. Sam Altman had earlier called India OpenAI’s fastest-growing market.
How did India get here so fast?
A few factors stand out from what OpenAI has said publicly.
- Voice first, not keyboard first. Singh said many Indian users tap the dictation button instead of typing. That is pushing OpenAI towards voice, Hindi and other Indian languages.
- Cheap phones, cheap plans. OpenAI says it is working to make the full experience run on entry-level smartphones with limited memory. Its low-cost ChatGPT Go plan was earlier offered free for a year to Indian users.
- Small business use. Singh described traders using ChatGPT for festive customer messages and one-person shops using it for marketing and inventory. He did not give usage numbers.
- Developers outside the metros. India is among the largest and fastest-growing markets for Codex, OpenAI’s coding agent, with use emerging from tier-II cities.
What is OpenAI building in India?
The user milestone sits on top of a growing local footprint. Here is what is on record so far.
| Area | What OpenAI has announced |
|---|---|
| Offices | First India office in Delhi NCR, with local hiring from August 2025; Mumbai and Bengaluru offices announced in February 2026 |
| Data centre capacity | Partnership with TCS’s HyperVault, starting at 100 MW with scope to scale to 1 GW |
| Local inference | OpenAI models available on Amazon Bedrock for local inference |
| Payments | UPI and payments announcements expected in the coming weeks |
| Advertising | Ads expanding in India; Razorpay’s Engage platform helps brands build catalogues and run campaigns |
| Languages | Wider Indian language and voice support |
Why do UPI payments on ChatGPT matter?
UPI is how most Indians pay for almost everything online, especially outside the big cities. If OpenAI lets users pay for ChatGPT plans through UPI, it removes a major hurdle for people who want to upgrade from the free tier but do not use cards.
It could also open the door to shopping and bookings inside ChatGPT, where UPI would be the natural way to pay. OpenAI has not given details yet, so treat this as a space to watch rather than a confirmed feature list.
What do ads on ChatGPT mean for Indian users?
OpenAI says ads will help keep free and lower-priced access going alongside paid plans. Early brands named in the Razorpay tie-up include Tanishq, Fastrack, Traya, Tata Neu, Rivaah by Tanishq, Shaadi.com, Axis Max Life, Palmonas and NMIMS.
Singh said advertisers will not get access to users’ personal information and that ads will not influence ChatGPT’s answers. For marketers, this is a new channel where people are already asking for product advice. For users, it means sponsored content will start to appear in some free experiences, so check what is labelled as an ad.
What about businesses and the government?
Singh said enterprises, global capability centres and startups are moving from pilots to production, naming JioHotstar and Cars24 as examples. OpenAI is also talking to government agencies, banks and financial institutions about cybersecurity.
He said he supports clear AI regulation. This comes as MeitY weighs separate rules for AI intermediaries, which could shape how chatbots operate in India.
What you should do
- Everyday users: Try voice input in your own language if typing in English feels slow. Before upgrading, compare what the free tier and ChatGPT Go offer for your actual use.
- Small businesses: Use ChatGPT for drafts such as offers, product descriptions and replies, but check prices, stock and legal terms yourself before sending anything to customers.
- Marketers: ChatGPT ads are worth a test budget, but measure them against your existing channels before moving serious money.
- Companies: If data residency matters, ask your vendor where requests are processed. Keep sensitive customer data out of prompts unless your contract covers it.
- Everyone: Do not paste Aadhaar numbers, bank details or passwords into any chatbot.
FAQs
How many ChatGPT users are there in India?
OpenAI has not shared a new number. In February 2026 it said India had more than 100 million weekly users, and it now says the user base has doubled since January.
Which country was ChatGPT’s largest market before India?
OpenAI did not name it in this update. It only said India has moved from second place to first by weekly active users.
Can I pay for ChatGPT with UPI?
Not yet announced. OpenAI says UPI and payments announcements are expected in the coming weeks, so watch the ChatGPT app for updates.
Is ChatGPT available in Hindi and other Indian languages?
Yes, you can chat in Hindi and several other Indian languages, including by voice. OpenAI says it is expanding Indian language support further.
Will ads in ChatGPT use my personal data?
OpenAI says advertisers will not get access to users’ personal information and that ads will not influence ChatGPT’s responses. You should still look out for labelled ads when you search for products.
Is ChatGPT Go free in India?
ChatGPT Go was earlier offered free for a year to Indian users. Check the app for the current offer, as promotions change.
Sources
- India Becomes ChatGPT’s Largest Market Globally, User Base Doubles Since January, Inc42
- India Is ChatGPT’s Biggest Market, Says OpenAI MD Prabhjeet Singh, Elets CIO
