India's data centre capacity is on course to expand from 1.5 GW to nearly 6.5 GW by 2030, a trajectory that is expected to generate close to one lakh engineering jobs in disciplines spanning AI systems, cooling technologies, smart grids, renewable energy integration and advanced digital infrastructure, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said on Friday, 22 May. He was delivering the keynote address at the annual leadership summit of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in New Delhi.

Data Centres as Strategic National Assets

Dr Singh framed the data centre boom not as a routine technological upgrade but as a defining strategic opportunity. He described data centres as the 'next oil economy', arguing that future global power will increasingly revolve around data control, digital infrastructure and secure technology ecosystems. India, he said, can no longer treat the data economy as merely a technological transition — it must be approached as a national priority influencing investments, employment, energy systems and geopolitical competitiveness for decades ahead.

The minister said India is fully prepared to emerge as a trusted global data centre hub, backed by policy reforms, private sector participation, clean energy integration and a rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem. He stressed the need for an integrated national approach involving government, private industry, infrastructure providers, telecom networks, renewable energy stakeholders and research institutions to fully leverage opportunities in hyperscale data centres and co-location markets.

AI, 6G and Quantum: India's Frontier Push

Dr Singh said India's rapidly evolving technology ecosystem — driven by AI, 6G, semiconductors and digital public infrastructure — is creating unprecedented openings for global investment and technology collaboration. He asserted that the world now increasingly looks to India for technology partnerships, rather than India waiting for breakthroughs from elsewhere.

Citing the National Quantum Mission as a flagship example, he noted that India has already crossed 1,000 kilometres of secure quantum communication infrastructure within just three years — more than half the target of 2,000 kilometres set over an eight-year horizon. This pace, he said, reflects India's ability to move decisively in frontier sectors.

Policy Reforms Enabling the Shift

The minister highlighted several transformative policy decisions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government that have laid the groundwork for India's digital infrastructure ambitions. These include long-term tax incentives for foreign cloud service providers, the establishment of the National Research Foundation, the Semiconductor Mission, and the opening of the space and nuclear energy sectors to private participation. Dr Singh acknowledged that many of these reforms were considered unlikely just a few years ago, but said India has demonstrated the political will to act rapidly in areas critical to future economic leadership.

What Will Drive Future Growth

Looking ahead, Dr Singh outlined the pillars on which India's data centre expansion will depend: resilient supply chains, sustainable energy systems, advanced telecom connectivity, subsea cable infrastructure, smart cooling solutions and coordinated cross-sectoral policy support. He said the growing alignment between policy intent and private sector participation has positioned India as one of the world's most dependable digital infrastructure destinations.

With global technology investment increasingly seeking stable, policy-backed environments, India's data centre ambitions place it at the centre of a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure race over the next decade.