OpenAI to offer Indian users a free year of ChatGPT Go

OpenAI will offer Indian users a free year of its ChatGPT Go service starting November 4.

The company introduced ChatGPT Go in India in August at 399 rupees (US$5) per year, marking its cheapest paid tier.

OpenAI, based in San Francisco, launched the promotion to align with its first DevDay Exchange event in India.

ChatGPT Go includes higher message limits, expanded image generation, and larger file upload options compared to the free version.

OpenAI said India is ChatGPT’s second-largest and among its fastest-growing markets.

Competing AI firms are also targeting India, with Perplexity AI giving free premium access through Bharti Airtel, and Google offering its Gemini AI Pro plan to students at no charge for a year.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

India’s AI picture stays fuzzy as OpenAI touts growth

OpenAI calls India its second-largest market 1. ChatGPT ranked fourth among the country’s most visited sites in September 2025 2. Monthly active users, growth, and average revenue per user for India remain undisclosed.
After ChatGPT Go launched locally, users doubled in a month 1. A free year could spark similar spikes. With no baseline, it is hard to judge paid conversion versus heavier unpaid use that adds load without income.
The chatbot drew 5.8 billion visits in August 2025, over 10 times Gemini’s traffic 1. India’s share of that volume is unverified despite its claimed rank, which blurs the line between marketing and real penetration 2.

Indian gateways can win by enabling RBI-compliant subscriptions

Card auto-debits face a ₹5,000 cap per transaction under Reserve Bank of India rules 3. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) AutoPay handled 53% of recurring payments by January 2025 4. Gateways that streamline e-mandate setup (an electronic standing instruction for recurring payments) and send 24-hour pre-debit alerts can help SaaS merchants stay compliant.
National Payments Corporation of India UPI volume crossed 17 billion in June 2025 5. Processors that integrate AutoPay APIs for recurring AI plans can tap that demand. One-time authentication enables auto-debits up to ₹15,000 afterward 6.
E-mandates need a 24-hour pre-debit alert and allow pause or cancel from UPI apps 4. Gateways that automate notices and opt-outs cut merchant burden while meeting the October 2021 rules 6.