Archive · 21 Aug 2026
India’s Clean Energy and 5G Fuel Data Centre Boom
India wants to become a bigger technology and artificial intelligence hub.
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the country is especially good at making useful AI applications for businesses and people.
These applications need large data centres to store and process information.
Data centres also need electricity all day and night.
India has about 250 gigawatts of renewable power capacity, which could help provide cleaner electricity.
Around 90% of the country has access to 5G, helping devices and services communicate faster.
Digital public systems can help smaller companies build services without creating basic systems from scratch.
India is also developing electronics manufacturing and semiconductor design skills.
Together, these efforts could support more AI services, businesses and technology jobs.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India’s main AI strength is developing practical applications.
India is building data centres, telecommunications networks, cloud systems and other digital infrastructure to support AI growth.
About 250 gigawatts of India’s power-generation capacity comes from renewable sources, according to Vaishnaw.
Vaishnaw said nearly 90% of India has 5G access and that the country has the world’s second-largest 5G ecosystem.
India accounts for 20% of the global semiconductor design workforce, while chip-design tools have been provided to 318 universities.
- Who
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw discussed India’s AI, telecommunications and infrastructure development with Morgan Stanley India Equity Strategist Ridham Desai.
- What
- India is expanding data centres, renewable power, 5G, digital public infrastructure, electronics manufacturing and semiconductor capabilities to support AI growth.
- When
- The discussion described current conditions and progress over the past decade; no specific date was provided.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Growing demand for AI, cloud computing, digital payments and online services requires reliable electricity, connectivity, computing capacity, equipment and supply chains.
- Renewable power capacity
- About 250 gigawatts of India’s power-generation capacity currently comes from renewable sources, according to Vaishnaw.
- 5G access
- Around 90% of India has access to 5G, according to Vaishnaw.
- Global 5G position
- Vaishnaw described India as the world’s second-largest 5G ecosystem.
- AI startups
- Nearly 80% of startups being established now offer AI-based solutions, according to Vaishnaw.
- Semiconductor design workforce
- India accounts for 20% of the global semiconductor design workforce, according to Vaishnaw.
- University chip-design access
- Advanced chip-design tools have been provided to 318 universities.
- Railway freight
- Railway freight volumes reportedly increased from about 1,000 million tonnes a decade ago to 1,670 million tonnes currently.