Gandhinagar, July 9 (APAC Media): The Gujarat government has officially introduced the ‘Viksit Gujarat – Data Centre Policy 2026-29’ to draw fresh investments into artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, hyperscale data centres, and digital services.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the policy booklet during a special event in Gandhinagar.
The launch was attended by high-profile figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, alongside technology sector leaders and senior officials.
P. Bharathi, Secretary for the Department of Science and Technology, explained that the policy aims to establish the vital infrastructure needed to back India’s booming digital economy.
Bharathi pointed out a stark contrast in global data distribution pointing out that while India produces nearly 20 per cent of the world’s data, it holds a mere three per cent of global data centre capacity.
“The question is, where will India’s future digital infrastructure be built? Gujarat is ready to answer that question,” she added.
She further revealed plans for two cable landing stations in the state, with another project to be disclosed shortly, boosting Gujarat’s international connectivity and investment appeal.
Under this new framework, Gujarat officially classifies data centres as strategic infrastructure. To encourage development, the state is offering an array of fiscal incentives. These include:
Capital and interest subsidies
Power tariff assistance and electricity duty reimbursements
SGST reimbursements and stamp duty exemptions
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Officials confirmed the policy also incorporates non-fiscal measures to foster a competitive environment for AI infrastructure and hyperscale data centres.
The policy highlights Gujarat’s robust foundations, notably its 69 gigawatts of installed power capacity—47 gigawatts of which is generated from renewable sources—alongside key industrial centres like GIFT City and Dholera.
As global data centre capacity is projected to near 200 gigawatts by the end of the decade, Gujarat hopes to secure a major piece of this growth to fuel its vision of becoming a USD 3.5 trillion economy by 2047.
The state government aims to build up to eight gigawatts of data centre capacity locally, inviting both domestic and international investors to help construct a resilient digital infrastructure ecosystem with full state backing.
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