India Data Centre Capacity Reaches 1.8GW

AI‑Powered Data Centre Conference 2026 – Mumbai Overview

The AI‑Powered Data Centre Conference 2026 was held in Mumbai on 23 July 2026 under the theme “From Capacity Gap to AI Superpower: Building India's Digital Backbone for the Intelligence Economy.” The event was organised by ASAPP Info Global Group and conceptualised by FIRST Construction Council.

Key Capacity and Power Metrics

• India’s total data‑centre capacity has risen from approximately 375 MW in 2020 to about 1.8 GW in 2026, as stated by Pratap Padode, Founder & MD of ASAPP Info Global Group.
• The Ministry of Power projects that electricity demand from data centres could reach 13.56 GW by FY 2031‑32, highlighting a significant future power‑supply challenge.

Principal Speakers and Their Highlights

• Pratap Padode emphasized that AI is a “compute, power, cooling, water and data‑governance story” and called for “green lanes” for responsible investors while setting “red lines” to protect infrastructure, environment and citizens.
• Shrinivas R. Deshingkar, Founder and Chairman of Shree Tech Data, described the sector as a massive opportunity for manufacturers, SMEs and the supply chain, but warned that power availability and skilled manpower are pressing concerns, urging investment in workforce development and indigenous manufacturing.
• Jay Bhurse, Chief Vision Officer of Prasa, noted that demand for AI infrastructure is far outstripping supply, creating opportunities for fast‑execution firms but also exposing shortages of transformers, generators, construction materials and critical commodities.
• Amit Agrawal, President of Techno Digital, highlighted the gathering of every key stakeholder, stressing the need to learn from international markets and proactively address barriers before they impede long‑term growth.
• Tanveer Ahmed, Business Head – Wet & Dry Cooling Solutions at Thermax, positioned sustainability as fundamental, advocating for efficient cooling technologies, knowledge sharing, stronger policy support, improved grid infrastructure and greater use of recycled water.
• MK Uang, General Manager, APAC Business Group at Graid Technology, explained that improving data I/O efficiency can boost GPU utilisation, delivering higher AI performance while reducing energy consumption and easing power‑cooling constraints.
• Rahul Sharma, Data Centre Expert, described the coming decade as “India’s decade for data centres,” emphasizing execution excellence and delivery credibility.
• Jagat Ram, Head – Data Centre Operation and Delivery at L&T, called for deeper ecosystem collaboration and increased investment in captive power, battery energy storage systems and advanced cooling infrastructure.

Themes and Challenges Discussed

• Capacity Creation: Accelerating project execution to meet AI‑driven demand.
• Power Infrastructure: Addressing projected 13.56 GW electricity need and current shortages of transformers and generators.
• Advanced Cooling: Adoption of wet and dry cooling solutions, recycled water usage, and data I/O efficiency improvements.
• Sustainability: Emphasis on green investment, policy support, and environmental responsibility.
• Workforce Development: Need for skilled manpower and indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
• Supply‑Chain Coordination: Coordinated planning across value‑chain participants to mitigate material shortages.

Partnerships and Media Support

• Gold & Delegate Bag Partner: Shree Tech.
• Silver Partners: Graid Technology Inc. and Suroj.
• Associate Partner: Prasa.
• Business Intelligence Partner: IMPACCT.
• Official Media Partners: Construction World and Infrastructure Today.

Forward‑Looking Outlook

The conference concluded with a forward‑looking discussion on India’s AI infrastructure ambitions through 2030, examining future investment requirements, ownership models, enterprise demand and the country’s potential to become a global destination for AI infrastructure.