India’s Data‑Centre Drive: Jobs, Technology and Policy
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, told the AMCHAM India Leadership Summit that India is entering a decisive phase where Data Centres will shape the global economic order. He highlighted that the sector will create **about one lakh engineering jobs** and will be powered by AI, quantum technologies and clean energy.
Key Developments
- Data‑centre capacity is projected to rise from 1.5 GW to nearly 6.5 GW by 2030.
- Estimated 1 lakh engineering jobs in AI systems, cooling technologies, smart grids and renewable‑energy integration.
- Government incentives for foreign cloud providers, the Semiconductor Mission and opening of space and nuclear sectors to private players.
- Progress on the National Quantum Mission: 1,000 km of secure quantum links built in three years, half of the eight‑year target.
- Emphasis on resilient supply chains, subsea cable networks and hyperscale data centres.
Important Facts
The Minister described the data‑economy as the “next oil economy”, stressing that control over digital infrastructure will determine future geopolitical competitiveness. He called for an integrated approach involving government, private industry, telecom operators, renewable‑energy stakeholders and research institutions.
Key technology pillars driving the growth are:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) – powering analytics and smart services.
- Quantum technologies – underpinning secure communication.
- 6G and advanced semiconductor ecosystems – supported by the