India’s Electronics Exports Cross Rs. 4 Lakh Crore for First Time in 2025
India’s electronics exports crossed the Rs. 4 lakh crore (US$ 48.2 billion) mark for the first time in 2025, marking a major milestone for the sector, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The surge in exports has contributed significantly to foreign exchange earnings and job creation across India’s electronics ecosystem. The minister added that the growth momentum is expected to continue into 2026, supported by the commencement of commercial operations at four semiconductor manufacturing plants, which are set to enhance export capacity and strengthen India’s role in the global electronics supply chain.
The electronics sector—covering mobile phones, components, accessories, and other high-value products—has recorded strong growth driven by higher production levels, increased participation from global manufacturers, and the cumulative impact of policy incentive programmes aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and export competitiveness. As new facilities come online and supply chains deepen, sustained growth in exports and domestic output is expected to generate long-term economic benefits. For non-Indian companies, this expansion underscores India’s rising importance as a manufacturing and sourcing hub, offering opportunities for contract manufacturing, component supply, technology partnerships, and deeper integration into a rapidly scaling electronics and semiconductor ecosystem.
Editor’s Note: India’s electronics exports crossed ₹4 lakh crore (US$48.2 billion) in 2025 for the first time, driven by strong production, global manufacturer participation, and supportive policy incentives. With new semiconductor plants set to begin operations in 2026, India is poised to expand export capacity, generate long-term economic benefits, and strengthen its role as a global electronics and semiconductor hub.
India’s Data Centre Capacity More Than Doubles to 387 MW in 2025, Seen Tripling by 2030
India’s data centre capacity additions more than doubled in 2025 to 387 MW IT, a 103 per cent year-on-year increase from 191 MW IT added in 2024, as the country emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing digital infrastructure markets, according to a report by Savills India. The consultancy projects India’s total data centre capacity to triple to over 4 GW IT by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of about 23 per cent. Demand remained firm, with data centre absorption rising 5 per cent annually to 427 MW IT in 2025, up from 407 MW IT a year earlier, while total operational stock reached 1.5 GW IT by year-end.
Hyperscalers accounted for 33 per cent of the operational stock, facilities serving both hyperscalers and enterprises made up 59 per cent, and enterprise-only facilities comprised 8 per cent. Mumbai and Chennai continued to dominate demand, together accounting for 70 per cent of total absorption in 2025, with Mumbai alone contributing 48 per cent, followed by Chennai at 22 per cent, while Tier-II cities added 7 per cent. On the supply side, Mumbai led with a 34 per cent share, followed by Delhi-NCR at 20 per cent and Chennai at 19 per cent. For non-Indian companies, the rapid scale-up highlights growing opportunities in colocation, cloud services, power and cooling technologies, and data centre design and operations, positioning India as an increasingly strategic market for global digital infrastructure investment and partnerships.
Editor’s Note: India’s data centre capacity more than doubled to 387 MW in 2025, with total capacity projected to triple to over 4 GW by 2030, driven by strong demand and a 23% CAGR. Mumbai and Chennai dominated absorption, while rapid expansion highlights major opportunities for global firms in colocation, cloud, and infrastructure partnerships as India cements its role in digital infrastructure.
Rajasthan Launches AI-ML Policy 2026, Rolls Out National AI Literacy Programme
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday launched the Rajasthan Artificial Intelligence–Machine Learning (AI-ML) Policy 2026 and the National AI Literacy Programme at the inaugural Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference-2026 held at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre. The chief minister also unveiled the iStart Learning Management System, the Rajasthan AVGC-XR Portal, and the Rajasthan AI Portal, aimed at strengthening AI-driven education, startups, research, skill development, and digital governance in the state. Sharma said the effective use of technology would be the foundation of future growth and that the new policy aligns with the Prime Minister’s Digital India mission to position Rajasthan as a leading centre for innovation, investment, and good governance in artificial intelligence.
The AI-ML Policy 2026 focuses on expanding e-governance through the responsible, ethical, and secure use of AI and ML, with a strong emphasis on data protection, cybersecurity, transparency, bias reduction, and privacy safeguards. It provides for an Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence, promotion of AI education across schools, colleges, ITIs, and polytechnics, and the appointment of AI nodal officers in each department to identify use cases, alongside the development of AI cloud services and secure data infrastructure. The National AI Literacy Programme aims to make AI accessible to children and non-experts, starting with a four-hour “AI for All” course. Memoranda of understanding were also signed with Google, IIT Delhi, and NLU Jodhpur to undertake AI- and ML-based pilot projects in health, agriculture, transport, and citizen services, a move that signals opportunities for non-Indian companies to collaborate on applied AI solutions, public-sector digital transformation, skilling initiatives, and technology partnerships within a rapidly evolving state-level AI ecosystem.
Editor’s Note: Rajasthan launched its AI-ML Policy 2026 and the National AI Literacy Programme to boost AI-driven education, startups, research, and digital governance, aligning with the Digital India mission. The policy emphasizes ethical AI use, data security, and e-governance, while partnerships with Google, IIT Delhi, and NLU Jodhpur aim to drive pilot projects in key sectors, opening opportunities for global collaboration in India’s evolving AI ecosystem.
India Services PMI Eases to 11-Month Low in December 2025, Expansion Remains Resilient
India’s services sector expanded at its slowest pace in 11 months in December 2025, with the HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) easing to 58.0 from 59.8 in November, data compiled by S&P Global showed. Despite the moderation, activity remained firmly in expansion territory, well above the neutral 50 mark. Pollyanna De Lima, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said the pullback in several indicators towards the end of 2025 could point to a moderation in growth entering the new year, even as a benign inflation environment supports competitiveness by limiting cost pressures and price hikes.
New business continued to grow but at the weakest pace in nearly a year, as competitive pricing and steady client interest were partly offset by customers having more choices, including lower-cost service providers. In contrast, overseas demand strengthened, with services exports rising at a faster pace than in November, driven by orders from Asia, North America, the Middle East and the UK, aided in part by a weaker rupee. Hiring activity stalled, with most firms keeping headcount unchanged amid limited pressure on operating capacity. While services firms remained optimistic about growth in 2026, sentiment weakened for a third straight month to its lowest level in nearly three-and-a-half years due to market uncertainty and currency concerns—signals that are relevant for non-Indian companies assessing outsourcing demand, export-linked services, and investment exposure to India’s services-led growth amid evolving global and currency conditions.
Editor’s Note: India’s services PMI eased to 58.0 in December 2025, an 11‑month low, though activity stayed firmly in expansion territory with overseas demand strengthening despite slower domestic growth. Hiring stalled and business sentiment weakened to a multi‑year low amid market uncertainty and currency concerns, signaling both resilience and caution for global firms assessing India’s services‑led growth.
Trump Clears Path for Russia Sanctions Bill Proposing 500% Tariffs on Oil Buyers
US President Donald Trump has approved moving forward with a bipartisan sanctions bill that proposes tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries continuing to do business with Russia, including major buyers of Russian oil such as India, China and Brazil, according to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Details published on the US Congress website show the proposed Sanctioning of Russia Act 2025 would also impose penalties on individuals and entities and raise duties on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to a minimum of 500 per cent, marking a sharp escalation in economic pressure. Graham said the bill, cleared by Trump during a meeting earlier in the day, could be taken up for a bipartisan vote as early as next week.
Graham said the legislation would give Washington greater leverage over countries “fueling Putin’s war machine” by purchasing discounted Russian oil, while preserving presidential authority over how sanctions are applied. The bill had been under discussion for months but was not previously brought to a vote, as Trump had earlier favoured the use of targeted tariffs rather than sweeping sanctions. The move comes as diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine intensify, with the US and its allies pledging stronger security guarantees for Kyiv. For non-Indian companies, the proposed legislation carries significant implications, as it could disrupt global energy trade flows, increase compliance and sanctions risk across supply chains, and affect firms with exposure to Russian-linked commodities, shipping, insurance, finance, or trade with countries targeted under the bill.
Editor’s Note: US President Donald Trump has cleared a bipartisan sanctions bill proposing tariffs of up to 500% on countries buying Russian oil, alongside sweeping penalties on Russian goods and entities. The move, aimed at increasing pressure amid the Ukraine war, could reshape global energy trade and heighten compliance risks for firms exposed to Russian-linked commodities and supply chains.
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan Outlines India’s AI and Digital Policy Priorities Ahead of AI Impact Summit 2026
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said India is entering a decisive phase in its digital journey as policy, technology and institutional reform increasingly converge. This approach is reflected in MeitY’s stewardship of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which aims to shift the global artificial intelligence discourse from abstract frameworks to measurable outcomes, inclusion and real-world deployment. Under MeitY’s mandate spanning digital public infrastructure, electronics manufacturing, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cyber resilience and data governance, the ministry has emerged as a central force in shaping how the Indian state leverages technology as an instrument of sovereignty, inclusion and economic transformation.
In a conversation with Anoop Verma, Krishnan said the challenge for policymakers lies in balancing scale with trust in digital systems, ambition with realism in AI and semiconductor strategies, and speed with institutional depth in regulatory design, particularly amid rapid technological change and geopolitical uncertainty. He emphasised the importance of policy sequencing, building domestic capabilities and aligning innovation with public purpose rather than focusing solely on headline initiatives. For non-Indian companies, these policy signals underline India’s growing focus on trusted digital ecosystems, local capability building and outcome-driven AI deployment, offering opportunities for long-term collaboration in areas such as semiconductors, applied AI, digital infrastructure and governance-compliant technology solutions.
Editor’s Note: MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan highlighted India’s push to align digital policy, technology, and institutional reform, with the AI Impact Summit 2026 focusing on measurable outcomes, inclusion, and real-world deployment. He stressed balancing scale with trust, ambition with realism, and innovation with public purpose, signaling opportunities for global firms in semiconductors, applied AI, and governance-compliant digital infrastructure.