Key Points
- Internet Connections Soar From 25 Crore To Over 102 Crore Since 2014
- Semicon India Programme Approves 12 Projects Worth Rs 1.64 Lakh Crore
- India’s Global Innovation Index Rank Jumps From 81st To 38th
NEW DELHI – The Indian government on Monday released a fact-sheet showing the country has rapidly expanded its data centre capacity and digital infrastructure over the past decade, positioning itself among the world’s leading technology hubs.
The document, issued by the central government, credited the growth to consistent policy backing, an expanding innovation ecosystem and steady gains across artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum research. Officials said the country had shifted from merely using imported technology to building solutions of its own.
According to the fact-sheet, total broadband connections climbed from roughly 6.1 crore to almost 100 crore over the same period. Internet connections overall rose from 25.15 crore in 2014 to beyond 102 crore by 2026.
Meanwhile, the optical fibre network expanded to more than 42 lakh route kilometres, more than double its earlier reach. Fifth-generation mobile services have also reached nearly every district in the country, the document noted.
The fact-sheet pointed to the Digital India initiative as a central driver behind this expansion. It said sustained funding and infrastructure rollout had reshaped how citizens and businesses access connectivity.
On computing capability, the National Supercomputing Mission has installed 38 machines across major institutions. These systems, including the homegrown PARAM Rudra series, together deliver 47 petaflops of processing power.
In addition, the semiconductor sector has attracted heavy investment under a scheme worth Rs 76,000 crore. So far, a dozen projects valued near Rs 1.64 lakh crore have received approval. These include a chip fabrication unit, compound semiconductor plants and packaging facilities.
The IndiaAI Mission, carrying an outlay above Rs 10,300 crore, is also building shared computing infrastructure exceeding 38,000 GPUs. Its AI Kosh repository currently stores over 12,000 datasets alongside more than 300 AI models across 20 sectors.
“This scale of public investment in compute and datasets gives Indian researchers and startups resources they previously had to seek abroad,” a technology policy observer said.
Besides semiconductors and AI, India has pushed forward on quantum research as well. The National Quantum Mission, backed by Rs 6,003.65 crore, has set up four thematic hubs and supported numerous startups in the field.
The country recently tested a secure quantum communication link spanning 1,000 kilometres, according to the fact-sheet. Officials described this as a significant technical milestone for secure data transmission.
On infrastructure, data centre capacity has grown roughly fourfold, rising from about 375 MW in 2020 to close to 1,500 MW by 2025. Major capacity has come up in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Noida and Jamnagar.
However, the fact-sheet also highlighted India’s Digital Public Infrastructure stack, which includes Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, CoWIN, UMANG and the Government e-Marketplace. These platforms have become central to how citizens access services.
The government has signed cooperation agreements on Digital Public Infrastructure with 23 countries so far. UPI-linked services are already functioning in nations such as Singapore, the UAE, France, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, India’s standing in the Global Innovation Index has climbed sharply, moving from 81st position in 2015 to 38th in 2025. The fact-sheet attributed this rise to sustained spending on infrastructure, emerging technologies, research and skilled manpower.
It said these combined efforts were positioning India as a dependable global hub for next-generation technologies and innovation going forward.
Moreover, officials noted that private enterprise has mirrored this state-led push, with companies expanding their own digital operations alongside government platforms. Corporate digital adoption has also picked up pace in recent years.
In addition, payment ecosystems linked to the broader Digital Public Infrastructure framework continue to evolve, with proposals around digital payments regulation under discussion.
Several state governments have separately begun deploying artificial intelligence tools in administrative work, including AI-based surveillance systems for public offices.
Global technology firms have also increased their engagement with India’s compute ecosystem, with deals such as the recent Google-SpaceX computing arrangement drawing attention internationally.
Industry leaders have continued to call for deeper collaboration, with officials such as Piyush Goyal urging global firms to join India’s innovation journey across sectors.
(Written with inputs from IANS)
