Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, has reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to India’s growing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital landscape. At a major Microsoft event in New Delhi, Nadella announced substantial infrastructure investments to boost AI adoption in India and enhance the country’s cloud capabilities. This renewed focus reflects India’s emerging role as a global technology center and shows Microsoft’s confidence in its digital future.
Microsoft Increases AI and Cloud Investments
During his speech, Nadella shared that Microsoft is investing USD 17.5 billion in India, marking its largest investment in Asia so far. He noted that this amount is in addition to the USD 3 billion announced during his last visit, indicating a significant expansion of cloud services, AI infrastructure, and digital growth throughout the country.
Nadella pointed out that the demand for advanced computing is rising in India due to the rapid development of AI. Microsoft’s investments aim to provide top-notch infrastructure for Indian developers, businesses, and public institutions.
Expansion of Cloud Services and Sustainable Data Centres
Nadella discussed Microsoft’s plans to grow its Azure cloud regions in India. Currently, Azure operates in three main regions—Central India, West India, and South India—and has a partnership with Jio. He announced the creation of a new data centre region, stating, “In 2026, we will have a new data centre in South Central India, and it will be 100 per cent sustainable.” This aligns with Microsoft’s global commitment to sustainability and its vision for a climate-friendly digital infrastructure.
Attention to Safeguards and Digital Authority
A key part of Nadella’s speech focused on digital sovereignty, which is becoming increasingly important as countries implement large-scale AI systems. He explained that Microsoft is creating cloud solutions that provide organisations with multiple layers of control to protect sensitive data while still accessing global cloud innovations.
However, he warned that sovereignty must go hand in hand with cybersecurity. Nadella mentioned that Microsoft monitors “trillions of daily signals” across platforms like Azure, Windows, and Microsoft 365 to identify and counter threats. Without this global intelligence, even sovereign systems can be at risk of cyberattacks.
Developing Skills to Empower India
Nadella revealed that he recently met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed strong support for Microsoft’s investments in India, especially in areas that promote social growth, economic opportunities, and digital inclusion.
To support talent development in India, Microsoft announced plans to skill 20 million Indians in AI and digital skills. Nadella highlighted initiatives like the government’s E-Shram platform to show how AI can help the unorganised workforce and create new opportunities across various sectors.
He also noted India’s growing importance in the global developer community, predicting that India will become the largest developer community on GitHub by 2030, thanks to its high engagement and innovative projects.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s renewed investment in India represents a significant step in the country’s digital transformation. By enhancing cloud infrastructure, establishing sustainable data centres, advancing AI capabilities, and launching extensive skilling programs, Microsoft aims to empower individuals, businesses, and government entities. Nadella concluded by reaffirming the company’s mission: to enable every person and organisation in India to achieve more as the nation confidently embraces an AI-driven future.
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