Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said India is entering a decisive phase in which data centres, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and next generation digital infrastructure will shape the future global economic order. He said the world increasingly looks to India for technology partnerships and that the country is prepared to emerge as a trusted global data centre hub through policy reform, private sector participation, clean energy integration and an expanding innovation ecosystem.

The minister reported that data centre capacity is projected to grow from one point five gigawatts (GW) to nearly six point five gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and that the ongoing expansion is expected to generate zero point one million engineering jobs (0.1 mn) in fields such as artificial intelligence systems, cooling technologies, smart grids, renewable energy integration and advanced digital infrastructure. He characterised the data economy as a strategic national opportunity that will influence investment, employment, energy systems and geopolitical competitiveness over coming decades.

He urged an integrated national approach involving government, private industry, infrastructure providers, telecom networks, renewable energy stakeholders and research institutions to leverage opportunities in hyperscale data centres and colocation markets. The minister emphasised that resilient supply chains, sustainable energy systems, advanced telecom connectivity, subsea cable infrastructure and smart cooling solutions will be critical to sector growth.

He highlighted the National Quantum Mission as an example of rapid progress, saying India has achieved more than half of its planned targets in less than half the stipulated time and has already crossed 1,000 kilometres of secure quantum communication infrastructure within three years against a target of 2,000 kilometres over eight years. The minister attributed progress to policy support and coordinated effort between agencies and industry.

He outlined reforms aimed at preparing India for future technologies, noting long-term tax incentives for cloud service providers, National Research Foundation and the Semiconductor Mission, and measures to open sectors such as space and nuclear energy to private participation. He said these measures, alongside public-private collaboration, aim to position India as a dependable destination for digital infrastructure investment.