Pranav Hotkar
Davos, Switzerland - January 21, 2026 – Tech Mahindra is exploring potential investments in artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, following discussions with state government officials on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos.
The Indian IT services company held talks with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and senior state officials, focusing on opportunities to develop AI-driven digital infrastructure, including data centers, as part of the state’s efforts to attract technology-led investment. The discussions also covered the possibility of Tech Mahindra acting as a strategic partner in the development of an IT park and establishing a Global Capability Center in the state.
Tech Mahindra highlighted Jharkhand’s position as an energy-surplus state, noting that access to reliable and affordable power is a critical requirement for AI compute facilities and large-scale data centers. The company discussed potential collaboration on energy solutions, including advanced storage systems, to support power-intensive digital infrastructure projects, according to people familiar with the discussions.
In addition to infrastructure, the talks included proposals around skill development and talent creation. Tech Mahindra outlined its experience in working with governments on education and workforce programs, suggesting partnerships to modernize industrial training institutes and align vocational education with the needs of the digital economy. The company said such initiatives could help create a local talent pipeline to support future AI and data center operations in the state.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said Jharkhand is focused on attracting investments that combine technology adoption with employment generation. He emphasized the importance of aligning industry participation with the state’s education and training ecosystem to ensure long-term economic impact from digital infrastructure projects.
Tech Mahindra has not committed to a specific investment size, capacity, or timeline, and said discussions are at an exploratory stage. However, industry observers note that interest from large IT services firms reflects a broader trend of companies evaluating non-traditional locations for AI and data center infrastructure, driven by power availability, land access, and cost considerations.
India’s data center and AI infrastructure market continues to expand rapidly as cloud adoption, data localization requirements, and enterprise AI deployment drive demand beyond established hubs. States such as Jharkhand are increasingly positioning themselves as alternative destinations by leveraging power surplus and policy support to attract long-term digital infrastructure investment.
