NewKerala.com

India's AI Future Hinges on Affordable, Sustainable Infrastructure

A key official emphasized that affordability and accessibility must be central to India's AI roadmap, moving beyond just algorithms to consider the sustainable infrastructure powering it. Experts at a policy roundtable argued that AI computing capacity and data centers should be treated as strategic national assets with implications for energy, development, and sovereignty. They highlighted the need for a holistic view of AI infrastructure, encompassing hardware, software, data, and energy within an interconnected ecosystem. Significant challenges, including concentrated data centers, grid limits, and water stress, must be addressed to scale AI sustainably across the country.

Key Points: India's AI Roadmap: Focus on Affordability & Energy Efficiency

  • AI as strategic infrastructure
  • Holistic ecosystem approach
  • Data centre concentration risks
  • Balancing growth with sustainability
  • Energy-efficient AI systems
2 min read

Don't just build AI, make it affordable: Energy Efficiency Bureau Official

Officials stress that India's AI growth must balance ambition with affordable infrastructure and sustainable energy use to ensure accessibility.

"India must create a virtuous cycle where AI supports energy efficiency and, in turn, energy systems sustainably support AI expansion. - Dr. Debajit Palit"

New Delhi, April 16

India's artificial intelligence roadmap should be built on the principles of affordability and accessibility, Ravi Shankar Prajapati, Joint Director at the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, said on Thursday.

He was delivering the keynote address at a policy roundtable titled "Roadmap for AI and Sustainability in India," organised by Chintan Research Foundation in association with The Dialogue here.

Prajapati stressed that India's AI ambitions are entering a decisive phase, with the country uniquely positioned due to its vast data generation capabilities.

However, he underlined that the future of AI in India will not be shaped solely by algorithms or applications, but also by the infrastructure that powers large-scale computation, including how it is designed, located, and sustained.

The discussion brought together policymakers, experts, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on aligning AI growth with sustainability goals. In his opening remarks, Dr. Debajit Palit, Centre Head at the Centre for Climate Change and Energy Transition at CRF, highlighted the need to strike a balance between energy and AI.

"India must create a "virtuous cycle" where AI supports energy efficiency and, in turn, energy systems sustainably support AI expansion," he stated.

Adding to the discussion, Shreeppriya Gopalakrishnan, DGM Policy at IndiaAI under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, emphasised that AI infrastructure should be viewed as an interconnected ecosystem.

She noted that it spans hardware, software, data, energy, and institutional frameworks, making it essential to adopt a holistic approach that bridges AI ambitions with real-world resource constraints.

Participants at the roundtable agreed that data centres and AI-ready computing capacity should be treated as strategic infrastructure rather than peripheral digital assets.

They highlighted that such infrastructure has far-reaching implications for energy systems, regional development, digital sovereignty, and long-term economic growth.

At the same time, experts pointed out several structural challenges that could shape India's AI trajectory. These include the concentration of data centres in a few metropolitan cities, limited grid capacity, water stress, climate risks, and rising energy demand. Addressing these constraints will be crucial for scaling AI sustainably across the country.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally, someone is talking about the energy cost! Every time I read about a new data centre, I worry about our water tables and power grids. A holistic approach is the need of the hour.
R
Rohit P
The "virtuous cycle" idea is brilliant. AI can optimize solar and wind farm outputs, which then powers more AI. We have the talent and the sun. Let's build this sustainably.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in tech, I appreciate this focus. However, I hope the policy doesn't just remain a discussion. We need clear incentives for green data centres and R&D in energy-efficient chips.
V
Vikram M
Absolutely correct. Why should all data centres be in Mumbai, Bangalore, or Delhi? Spread them out! Use the colder climates in the North East or the solar potential in Rajasthan. This will also create jobs there.
D
David E
A very sensible approach. India's scale is its biggest advantage but also its biggest challenge. Building an AI ecosystem that doesn't cripple the power infrastructure is key to long-term success.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50