🔆 NITI AAYOG’S DATA CENTRE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK

📍 GS-III: Science & Technology | Economy
📍 Source: PIB · NITI Aayog ·

🔆 WHY IN NEWS?
🟢 NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub released the framework on 14 October 2026 to help States evaluate data-centre proposals before offering incentives.
🟢 India’s data-centre capacity grew from 375 MW (2020) to around 1.5 GW, nearly fourfold.

🔆 FIVE PILLARS
🟢 Power & Energy: Grid readiness, renewable energy and storage-backed power.
🟢 Water & Cooling: Basin-level water stress, reuse and impact on public supply.
🟢 Siting & Environment: Suitable zones, sustainability, e-waste and battery management.
🟢 Economic & Strategic Value: Outcome-linked incentives, domestic manufacturing and R&D.
🟢 Policy & Governance: Time-bound approvals, accountability and project monitoring.

🔆 KEY POLICY LINKAGES
🟢 2020: Draft Data Centre Policy by MeitY.
🟢 2022: Data centres added to the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure.
🟢 2023: Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
🟢 2024: IndiaAI Mission approved with an outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore.
🟢 Tax incentive: Tax holiday until 2047 for eligible foreign cloud service providers using India-based data-centre infrastructure.

🔆 IMPORTANT TERMS
🟢 PUE: Total facility energy ÷ IT equipment energy; 1.0 is the theoretical ideal.
🟢 WUE: Litres of water used per kWh of IT energy.
🟢 Colocation: Renting data-centre space, power and cooling to clients.
🟢 Active compute: Operating servers and services that generate higher-value activity and skilled jobs.

🔆 CHALLENGES
🟢 High power and water consumption can strain local resources.
🟢 Incentive competition may trigger a race to the bottom among States.
🟢 Low direct job creation and concentration around Mumbai and Chennai raise concerns.
🟢 Round-the-clock demand requires storage-backed renewable energy to limit coal dependence.
🟢 The framework is a decision-support tool, not an additional regulatory layer; adoption remains voluntary.

✍️ MAINS QUESTION (15 MARKS | 250 WORDS)
Data centres are emerging as critical infrastructure for India’s AI ambitions, but they make heavy demands on power, water and land. Discuss how States can balance investment attraction with resource sustainability.

#ScienceAndTechnology

🔆 JAINISM: 24 TIRTHANKARAS & THEIR SYMBOLS
📚 UPSC Prelims | Ancient Indian History

🔆 Important Tirthankaras and Symbols

🟢 1st – Rishabhdev: Ox
🟢 2nd – Ajitanath: Elephant
🟢 3rd – Sambhavanath: Horse
🟢 7th – Suparshvanath: Swastika
🟢 16th – Shantinath: Deer
🟢 21st – Naminath: Blue Lotus
🟢 22nd – Neminath: Conch Shell
🟢 23rd – Parshwanath: Serpent
🟢 24th – Mahavira: Lion

🔆 Important Prelims Fact
🟢 Rishabhdev (1st) and Neminath (22nd) are mentioned in the Rigveda, according to the provided notes.

📍 Quick Revision

• Ox → Rishabhdev
• Elephant → Ajitanath
• Horse → Sambhavanath
• Swastika → Suparshvanath
• Deer → Shantinath
• Blue Lotus → Naminath
• Conch → Neminath
• Serpent → Parshwanath
• Lion → Mahavira

#history #prelims #mains

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October PIB summary Anmol Vachan

1-19 oct
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20-31 October

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