In a major push toward strengthening India’s digital infrastructure, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is partnering with the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to ensure uninterrupted power supply for data centers supporting AI and digital services.
Announcing the initiative at the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) 2024, MeitY Secretary S Krishnan highlighted the critical need for resilient power solutions to support the country’s expanding digital ecosystem. He emphasized that stable power infrastructure is essential for enabling India’s AI-driven future and securing its position as a global data hub.
“As we adopt AI at scale, ensuring reliable power for data centers is paramount. We are actively working with the Power Ministry and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to secure sustainable and resilient energy supplies for this vital infrastructure,” Krishnan stated.
He added that the plan is to ensure that the country has enough power for the data centers which will undertake what needs to be happening on these are all issues which are extremely critical.
The collaboration aims to integrate renewable energy sources into the national grid while enhancing grid stability. India’s power-intensive data centers underpin essential services like financial transactions, telecom, cloud computing, and government digital platforms.
This partnership comes close on the heels of the RFP of the GPU scheme under India AI mission. The IndiaAI Mission was announced this year, outlying Rs 10,371.92 crore for the research and development of AI in India. This initiative plans to make available 10,000 GPUs to support India's AI mission which will benefit startups, researchers, students, and academicians alike.
Krishnan also stressed the need for long-term investments in broadband infrastructure and the rollout of the National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) to ensure stable, high-speed connectivity nationwide.
India’s digital economy, driven by over 955 million Internet users, increasingly relies on AI-powered applications. As the country gears up for key global tech forums, including the Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh later this month, ensuring a robust and sustainable digital infrastructure has become a top priority.
He highlighted that with a comprehensive power strategy in place, India is poised to strengthen its digital economy, support its expanding Internet ecosystem, and secure its role as a leader in the global tech landscape.
