Data center capacity in the country has expanded from approximately 375 MW in 2020 to around 1500 MW by 2025.

The data center sector in India is expanding steadily. The country's overall data center capacity has expanded from approximately 375 MW in 2020 to around 1500 MW by 2025.

Under the AI computing capacity framework, 14 empanelled service providers/data centers have onboarded about 38,231 GPUs to facilitate AI development.

Startups, researchers, universities, and other qualifying users can access these services at a discounted rate of ₹65 per hour. This is almost one-third of the global average cost.

These data centers are located around the country, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Noida, and Jamnagar.

The government is aware of the infrastructure requirements of the data centre ecosystem, such as energy and water.

The government's planning process takes into account the predicted electricity demand from the rise of AI and other large-scale data centres. According to the Ministry of Power, electricity demand from data centers is expected to reach 13.56 GW by 2031-32.

India's national transmission system is constantly being extended to meet increasing electrical demand. It is adequately prepared to provide consistent power supply throughout areas.

Parliament recently passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, which aims to boost the nuclear energy ecosystem.

India's pharmaceutical sector is a global powerhouse, ranking 3rd in volume and 11th in value.

A March 2026 report by the Press Information Bureau highlights India’s strong position as the “Pharmacy of the World,” ranking 3rd globally by volume and 11th by value. The pharmaceutical sector, valued at $60 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $130 billion by 2030, with a turnover of ₹4.72 lakh crore in FY25. India supplies 20% of global generics and 60% of vaccines to UNICEF. Strong regulation by Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission supports growth, while the Biopharma SHAKTI initiative aims to boost biologics and biosimilars.

Key performance indicators: 

• Pharmaceutical exports totaled $30.5 billion in 2024-25, with 50% going to highly regulated markets such as the United States and the European Union. 
• Drugs and Pharmaceuticals received ₹13,193 crore in FDI for the first half of FY25-26, indicating strong international confidence. 
• PLI Success: As of September 2025, Production Linked Incentive schemes generated ₹40,890 crore in investment and saved imports of ₹3,591 crore in essential APIs and KSMs.
• Recently negotiated or proposed free trade agreements (FTAs) with the EU, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand will give Indian generics and medical devices with zero-duty access to hundreds of tariff lines. 
• As of March 2026, there are around 18,646 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in operating, saving citizens an estimated ₹8,000 crore every year on necessary medicines. 
• Medical device exports are expected to reach $4.1 billion in 2024-25, boosted by specialized medical device parks in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

The Union Cabinet approved the Bharat Industrial Development Scheme with an allocation of Rs 33,660 crore.

 

The Union Cabinet has approved the Bharat Industrial creation Scheme- Bhavya, which will fund the creation of 100 plug-and-play industrial parks for Rs 33,660 crore.

Following a cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav briefed media in New Delhi on the scheme's goals, which include developing world-class industrial infrastructure, unleashing manufacturing potential, and accelerating national prosperity. He stated that one crore rupees per acre will be spent on establishing industrial parks ranging in size from 100 to 1,000 acres.

The Cotton Corporation of India Limited would get a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of around ₹1,718 crore for the 2023-24 cotton season, as approved by Cabinet. Shri Vaishnav stated that the MSP is set to protect the interests of cotton producers, particularly when market prices fall below the MSP.

The Cabinet also approved the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31, which includes an outlay of more than Rs 2,584 crore for the construction of small hydropower facilities with a capacity of around 1500 MW.

The Cabinet has approved the building of the nearly 101-kilometer-long four-lane National Highway-927 from Barabanki to Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, at a cost of more than Rs 6,969 crore.

India’s Power Sector - Progress, Reform, and Future

India’s power sector has undergone major transformation with improved capacity, reliability, and access to electricity.

Total installed power capacity reached 520.51 GW (Jan 2026), reflecting strong infrastructure growth.

Power shortages significantly reduced from 4.2% (FY14) to just 0.03% (Dec 2025), indicating improved supply-demand balance.

Government investment of ₹1.85 lakh crore enabled electrification of 18,374 villages and 2.86 crore households.

Financial health of DISCOMs improved:

• Dues reduced from ₹1.4 lakh crore (2022) to ₹4,109 crore (2026)
• Achieved ₹2,701 crore profit in FY25

Expansion driven by policy reforms, regulatory discipline, and institutional strengthening.

Increasing adoption of smart metering is making the system more digital, transparent, and efficient.

Electricity plays a critical role in economic growth - supporting agriculture, industry, healthcare, and digital infrastructure.

Sector transition reflects a shift toward adequacy, sustainability, and reliability in power supply.

Future focus includes modernization, clean energy integration, and enhanced consumer participation.

India's metro expansion: How rapid network growth is improving urban mobility and household financial stability.

India’s metro rail network has expanded rapidly over the past decade, growing from 248 km in 2014 to about 1,095 km by 2025, and the number of metro cities increasing from 5 to 26. This growth has improved urban mobility, reduced congestion and travel time, and provided a faster and more reliable public transport option.

• Major cities with metro systems include Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune and Ahmedabad. The network also includes the 55 km Delhi–Meerut corridor of the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System.

• Since 2014, the government has sanctioned 38 metro projects covering around 1,051 km with an estimated investment of ₹3.44 lakh crore, making India the third-largest operational metro network in the world.

• Several technological milestones have been achieved. The Namo Bharat Train began operations in 2023 with speeds up to 160 km/h. In 2024, India opened its first underwater metro tunnel under the Hooghly River connecting Esplanade and Howrah Maidan. The Kochi Water Metro launched in 2023 using electric-hybrid boats.

• Modern technologies include driverless trains, QR-based ticketing, the National Common Mobility Card, platform screen doors, regenerative braking, and solar-powered stations.

• Metro expansion aligns with national infrastructure initiatives like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Infrastructure Pipeline. The Union Budget 2024–25 allocated ₹11.21 lakh crore for capital expenditure.

• Research by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister shows metro connectivity lowers commuting costs and improves household financial stability, leading to better loan repayment patterns in cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi.

• Overall, metro expansion is strengthening urban mobility, economic productivity, environmental sustainability, and household financial resilience across India.

MoD signs contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for ALH Mk-III (MR) and VL-Shtil missiles.

On March 3, 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed contracts totaling Rs 5,083 crore to purchase Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch (Shtil) missiles for the Indian Navy and six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard. At South Block in New Delhi, the contracts were signed in front of Defense Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh.

ALH Mk-III (MR)

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru has signed a contract worth Rs 2,901 crore for ALH Mk-III (MR), along with operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support, under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category.

These twin-engine helicopters can perform a variety of maritime security duties from both shore-based airfields and ships at sea, and they include cutting-edge characteristics that are superior to the currently used airborne platforms. The induction will greatly improve the Indian Coast Guard's capacity to carry out its responsibilities for the safety and protection of man-made islands, offshore installations, fishermen, and the marine environment.

More than 200 MSMEs are scheduled to supply equipment for the project, which is anticipated to create about 65 lakh man-hours of employment. The agreement strengthens the country's maritime security framework and reaffirms the government's dedication to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make-in-India drive.

Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles

The Russian Federation's JSC Rosoboronexport has signed a contract worth Rs 2,182 crore to purchase Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch-Shtil missiles and related missile holding frames. The purchase is meant to significantly improve frontline vessels' air defense capabilities against a variety of aerial threats.

By offering quick response, all-weather engagement capabilities, and enhanced survivability in contested maritime settings, the system will strengthen the Indian Navy's layered air defense architecture onboard its platforms. The agreement emphasizes India and Russia's long-standing, tried-and-true defense alliance, which is based on strategic alignment and mutual trust.