Jaipur, India - January 6, 2026 - Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday announced that Rajasthan will soon host its first data center, marking a significant step in strengthening the state’s digital infrastructure and supporting India’s expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The announcement was made at the Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 in Jaipur, where Vaishnaw also emphasized a national initiative to train 1 million youth in AI skills.
Addressing government officials, industry leaders, and researchers, Vaishnaw said the upcoming facility would play a central role in positioning Rajasthan as an emerging technology hub while expanding compute capacity to support AI-driven innovation. “Work on the data center will begin shortly,” he said, describing the project as foundational infrastructure for digital growth.
The announcement came during the Regional AI Impact Conference, an event designed to accelerate AI adoption across states and build momentum ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi next month. The conference focused on policy frameworks, responsible AI deployment, and workforce readiness, with participation from senior central and state government leaders.
In parallel, Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s AI skilling program, which aims to train 1 million young people nationwide in artificial intelligence tools and applications within the next year. The initiative is intended to equip students, professionals, and entrepreneurs with practical AI capabilities that can be applied across sectors, including small businesses and public services. “We are ensuring that AI reaches the grassroots and becomes a productivity multiplier for citizens,” Vaishnaw said.
Vaishnaw also stressed that building talent is as critical as deploying physical infrastructure, noting that India’s AI ambitions depend on both accessible compute resources and a skilled workforce. He praised contributions from academic institutions such as IIT Jodhpur, citing their role in advancing AI research and capacity building within the region.
State officials said the combination of a dedicated data center and large-scale skilling initiatives would strengthen Rajasthan’s attractiveness for technology investment, startups, and research institutions. These efforts align with the state’s proposed AI and Machine Learning Policy 2026, which seeks to promote innovation, encourage industry adoption, and support digital entrepreneurship.
Industry observers noted that the announcement reflects a broader national strategy to expand regional digital infrastructure ecosystems, ensuring that AI development and economic opportunities extend beyond established technology corridors. The Rajasthan data center project and AI skilling drive together underscore a coordinated push to build both the compute backbone and the human capital required for India’s next phase of AI-led growth.
