Context
A recent research paper highlights India’s efforts to expand its domestic cloud ecosystem to strengthen digital governance, improve public service delivery, and support emerging technologies.
About Cloud Computing
- Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing resources, including data storage, servers, software and processing capabilities, over the internet.
- It enables individuals, businesses and government organisations to access computing resources without purchasing and maintaining their own physical infrastructure.
- Cloud infrastructure supports digital payments, e-governance, artificial intelligence, online education, healthcare and other digital services.
- Domestic cloud infrastructure can strengthen control over sensitive information and support India’s technological self-reliance.
Importance of Cloud Computing for India
- Data Sovereignty: Strengthens domestic control over data storage and processing.
- Digital Governance: Supports government platforms such as DigiLocker, MyGov and the National Scholarship Portal.
- AI Development: Provides computing resources to startups, researchers and academic institutions.
- Cost Efficiency: Reduces infrastructure costs and enables flexible computing capacity.
- Digital Infrastructure: India’s data centre capacity reached 1.57 GW in August 2026 and is projected to reach nearly 8 GW by 2030.
Types of Cloud Deployment Models
- Public Cloud: Infrastructure shared among multiple customers and managed by a service provider.
- Private Cloud: Infrastructure dedicated to a single organisation.
- Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private cloud environments.
Types of Cloud Computing Services
- IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Provides virtual servers, storage and networks.
- PaaS (Platform as a Service): Provides tools to develop and deploy applications.
- SaaS (Software as a Service): Delivers ready-to-use software over the internet.
- Serverless Computing: Enables application execution without users directly managing servers.
Major Government Initiatives for Cloud Computing in India
1. MeghRaj and MeghRaj 2.0
- Launched: MeghRaj was launched in 2014.
- Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Objective: To accelerate e-governance and optimise public expenditure on information and communication technology.
- Provides cloud services through Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS).
- Supports digital platforms such as DigiLocker, MyGov and the National Scholarship Portal. Pasted text
2. IndiaAI Mission
- Approved with a financial outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore.
- Aims to broaden access to AI computing infrastructure.
3. National Informatics Centre (NIC) Data Centres
- NIC operates 4 National Data Centres and 24 Mini Data Centres across India.
- These facilities provide shared hosting, co-location and cloud services to government departments.
4. Cloud Selection Framework, 2026
- MeitY issued the Cloud Selection Framework in March 2026.
- Prioritises government-backed cloud infrastructure, including NIC and State Data Centres, while enabling hybrid deployment models with empanelled cloud service providers. Pasted text
Conclusion
India’s expanding cloud ecosystem is becoming a critical foundation for digital governance, artificial intelligence and economic growth. Initiatives such as MeghRaj, the IndiaAI Mission and the expansion of domestic data centres are improving computing capacity and supporting data sovereignty. Continued investment in secure infrastructure, skilled human resources and effective data governance will be essential to building a resilient and globally competitive digital ecosystem.
| Important CTC from this Article: MeghRaj |