India Invites Whole World's Data: PM Modi on Massive Job Creation from AI and Data Centres
PM Modi invites global data to India for massive youth job creation via AI and data centres ahead of 2026 summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasized India’s ambition to become a global hub for artificial intelligence and data storage, stating that data centres in India will be major job creators for the youth. His remarks came ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, where he will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo 2026.
“We invite the whole world’s data to reside in India,” PM Modi said in an interview with PTI, highlighting the government’s focus on expanding computing power and data centre infrastructure. He added that the initiative aims to lay the foundation for a thriving AI ecosystem while boosting employment opportunities in the country.
India’s data centre capacity reached 1.5 gigawatts across seven major cities by the end of 2025 and is projected to exceed 1.7 GW by the end of 2026. The expansion of AI and cloud services is seen as a critical enabler for India’s ambition to strengthen its digital economy and surpass the trillion-dollar mark in GDP.
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget 2026, announced tax incentives to attract global cloud companies. The plan includes a tax holiday until 2047 for firms providing cloud services from India, provided services are offered to domestic customers through Indian reseller entities. A 15% safe harbour on cost is also proposed for related entities offering such services.
Global technology giants are already investing in India’s AI infrastructure. Google announced a $15 billion investment over five years to establish a 1 GW AI data centre campus in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, combining large-scale computing, energy resources, and fibre-optic connectivity. Industry experts say these incentives, combined with global investments, could position India as a leading player in AI and cloud computing.
The government is also focusing on complementary infrastructure projects, including dedicated rare earth corridors in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, to support AI and manufacturing industries. Such initiatives are expected to enhance India’s capabilities in research, processing, and technology-driven economic growth.
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