Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said India is expected to attract more than $200 billion in investments related to artificial intelligence and data infrastructure over the next two years. Speaking during the ongoing India AI Impact Summit in the national capital, the minister highlighted growing global interest in India’s technology ecosystem. He said the anticipated investment reflects strong confidence in the country’s digital and AI capabilities. The government is positioning India as a major destination for next-generation technologies. Officials view the summit as a key platform to highlight these strengths.

Vaishnaw said that of the projected investment, about $70 billion has already been committed, while another $90 billion has been formally announced. He added that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s 21-year tax holiday for companies setting up cloud service data centres is expected to provide a significant boost. The policy is aimed at strengthening India’s data infrastructure and attracting global technology players. Authorities believe the incentive framework will accelerate capacity creation. The move forms part of a broader push to expand India’s digital economy.

The minister said India currently has strong capabilities across all five layers of the AI stack, from physical hardware required to run AI systems to software and end-use applications. He described the country as a “trusted AI partner” for nations in the Global South because of its focus on open, affordable and development-orientated solutions. Citing the 2025 Global AI Index by Stanford University, Vaishnaw noted that India ranks third globally in AI readiness. The government sees this ranking as validation of its policy direction. Officials believe it strengthens India’s pitch for deeper global collaboration.

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Vaishnaw also underlined the importance of India’s large IT talent pool in sustaining long-term AI growth. He said the government is working closely with the private sector to upskill and reskill the workforce. Efforts are underway to update academic curricula so students remain aligned with rapidly evolving technology requirements. Policymakers believe talent development will be critical to maintaining competitiveness. The focus remains on building durable digital capacity.

India is using the high-profile AI summit to push for broader global access to artificial intelligence technologies. The government is expected to seek consensus on creating a “global AI commons", a shared repository of AI use cases across critical sectors. Officials say the initiative would enable countries worldwide to benefit from proven AI solutions. The proposal aligns with India’s call to democratise AI for the Global South. The summit has drawn participation from technology leaders, policymakers and startup founders from multiple countries.

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