SPECIAL

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) India’s data centre capacity is set to surge nearly six‑fold from 1.8 GW to about 10.5 GW by FY2031 as demand rises due to artificial intelligence adoption and data localisation policies, a new report has said.

The report from investment bank Morgan Stanley said AI workloads alone could account for roughly 6.8 GW of the projected capacity and that rising demand for low‑latency processing, tighter localisation norms and increasing compute intensity are another major driver.

Further, geopolitical realignments, and India’s regulatory push, are catalysing a multi-year investment cycle in data centres, the report said.

The report projected an industrial capital expenditure pipeline of around $60 billion linked to incremental data centre capacity, covering land, power systems, cooling infrastructure and networking equipment.

It said the power ecosystem will require over $20 billion of investment to support energy‑intensive facilities, with operators increasingly shifting towards renewable energy and storage solutions.

The report highlighted that policy measures such as data localisation stipulations, infrastructure status for data centres and fiscal incentives are accelerating capital formation and attracting global hyperscalers.

“Strategically, greater domestic data storage enhances digital sovereignty, reduces reliance on overseas infrastructure, and positions India as a regional hub for global technology firms,” the report said, adding foreign investment flows will deepen, positioning India as a regional hub for cloud and digital services.

The report also flagged constraints to such a rapid scaling, which are access to reliable and cost-effective power, and India’s dependence on imported high-end computing hardware.

Morgan Stanley said that about 60 per cent of the incremental capex in India through 2030 is likely to be allocated to energy transition, data centres and defence.

India is likely to see an incremental cumulative capex of $800 billion over the next five years in these sectors due to the Middle East conflict, and the country’s investment‑rate will touch 37.5 per cent of GDP in FY2030, the report said,

—IANS

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New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) The FTA with New Zealand is expected to give a big push to India’s leather industry, which expects to grow to $50 billion by 2030, driven by a strategic shift from mass production to high-value-added manufacturing, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Sunday.

On the eve of the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay participated in an Industry Engagement Programme at Agra.

“New Zealand’s rich raw leather resources, combined with India’s manufacturing capabilities, offer a strong complementarity that both sides expressed keenness to harness. On the occasion, both ministers, along with Industry representatives, spoke of positioning Agra as a global sourcing destination, an employment engine, and an export powerhouse on the world stage,” the Commerce Ministry statement said.

Agra, which accounts for approximately 75 per cent of India’s leather footwear production, holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its leather footwear and is a flagship product under the One District One Product scheme.

With the FTA eliminating duties on 100 per cent of Indian exports from Entry into Force, and bringing tariffs on leather and footwear from 5 per cent to zero, Indian exporters are set to gain a decisive competitive advantage.

MoS of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Baghel, also participated in the interaction.

The interaction brought together leading industry representatives from the leather and footwear, AYUSH, medical devices, light engineering, and sports goods sectors and Laghu Udyog Bharati, Uttar Pradesh. The industry presented its views reflecting the depth and diversity of India’s leather manufacturing prowess, as well as the pharma industry, medical devices industry, and engineering products.

In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building trade partnerships that are inclusive, forward-looking, and firmly rooted in India’s national priorities, both ministers underscored that the India-New Zealand FTA is far more than a tariff agreement. It is a comprehensive framework encompassing market access, agricultural productivity, investment, talent mobility, collaboration in sports, tourism, and people-to-people ties, designed to benefit manufacturers, farmers, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, students, and skilled professionals across both nations.

The interaction also covered the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. Industry representatives welcomed the FTA’s provisions for faster regulatory access, including acceptance of GMP and GCP inspection reports from comparable international regulators, which will reduce compliance burdens and expedite product approvals for Indian manufacturers. They welcomed the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on Health and Traditional Medicine in the FTA, a first for both countries, recognising AYUSH.

Goyal also touched upon the significant opportunities the Agreement creates in education and talent mobility. He urged industry and stakeholders to actively leverage these provisions, encouraging Indian students and professionals to explore the new pathways the FTA opens, and called upon all to view this Agreement as a gateway to a deeper, people-centred partnership between the two nations.

The Industry Engagement Programme at Agra is part of a series of high-level interactions accompanying the landmark signing of the India-New Zealand FTA in New Delhi, concluded in a record nine months since its launch on March 16, 2025, marking a new chapter in bilateral economic relations.

–IANS

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Jammu, April 12 (IANS) The annual Amarnath Yatra will start this year on July 3 and will conclude after 57 days on August 28, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival, Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday.

Jammu, April 12 (IANS) The annual Amarnath Yatra will start this year on July 3 and will conclude after 57 days on August 28, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival, Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday.

The office of the Lt. Governor posted on X, “The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will commence this year on 3 July 2026 and conclude on Raksha Bandhan, 28 August 2026, spanning a total of 57 days. The Pratham Puja, to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, will be held on Jyeshtha Purnima, 29 June 2026.”

The L-G also said that the advance registration for the Yatra will begin on April 15 via both offline and online modes. This facility will be available at 554 branches of J&K Bank, PNB, SBI, and Yes Bank across the country.

The annual Amarnath Yatra to the Himalayan cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the South Kashmir Anantnag district of Kashmir Division is held each year, with thousands of Yatris coming to the cave shrine from different parts of the country and from abroad.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure, which devotees believe symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

The ice stalagmite structure wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

Devotees approach the cave shrine either through the traditional Pahalgam route or through the Baltal route in the North Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

The Pahalgam route to the cave shrine is a traditional, scenic, and involves a trek of 3-5 days covering 34 kms. It passes through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni.

The route features steep climbs, such as Pissu Top and Mahagunas Pass, requiring good physical fitness, with amenities like ‘langars’ (Free Community Kitchens) and tents available on the route.

The Baltal route is shorter, involving a trek of 14 km. Those using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after performing the Yatra.

Helicopter services are also available for devotees from both routes through Pahalgam and Baltal.

–IANS

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Kolkata, April 4 (IANS) The Artists Forum has decided to file a formal police complaint against the production company linked to the death of Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, expressing dissatisfaction with the explanations provided so far.

Sources said the FIR would be lodged with the concerned police station after 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Forum alleged that the information shared by the production house, which was responsible for the shoot of the Bengali television series during which the incident occurred, was inadequate and raised several unanswered questions.

Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee addressed a press conference at Technicians’ Studio late on Friday night, stating that the Forum had written to the production company on April 1 but did not receive a satisfactory response.

“We had hoped for an answer that would address our concerns. Since that did not happen, we have decided to file an FIR,” he said.

Responding to queries on why the decision to approach the police was taken several days after the incident, Prosenjit said the loss deeply shook the industry. “It is impossible to bring back someone who has passed away. We were all in shock. It took a few days to come to terms with the fact that Rahul is no longer with us. Now, we will try our best to find out the real reason behind his death,” he added.

Actor Shantilal Mukherjee also said the Forum was unhappy with the reply received from the production company and that legal advice was subsequently taken. “After consulting lawyers, we decided to file a complaint with the concerned police station, demanding a full and impartial investigation,” he told reporters.

Several actors from the Bengali film and television industry alleged that the production company’s statement, issued three days after the incident, contained inconsistencies and failed to address key issues, including compensation. They also criticised the company’s spokesperson, Leena Gangopadhyay, for not meeting Rahul Banerjee’s family following his death.

Meanwhile, posters demanding “Justice for Rahul” have surfaced on social media, with calls for protests seeking accountability.

The 42-year-old actor drowned on March 29 while shooting for the television series ‘Bhole Baba Paar Karega’ at Talsari in Odisha. Reports said he entered the water just as the tide rose and was swept away. Technicians later pulled him out, but he could not be saved. Preliminary findings indicated death due to drowning.

An unnatural death case has been registered at Digha Police Station. The incident has brought the Bengali film and television industry to a standstill, with actors, directors, and technicians expressing shock and grief.

Rahul Banerjee is survived by his mother, wife — actor Priyanka Sarkar — and their 13‑year‑old son.

Known for his character roles, Rahul gained recognition with ‘Chirodini Tumi Je Amar’ (2008) and went on to appear in films such as ‘Tumi Asbe Bole’ (2014), ‘Zulfiqar’ (2016), ‘Byomkesh Gotro’ (2018), ‘Biday Byomkesh’ (2018) and ‘The Academy of Fine Arts’ (2025). He was also a familiar face on television, appearing in serials such as ‘Hargouri Pice Hotel’ and ‘Mohona’.

–ANS

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