India is seeing a growth in data center infrastructure. According to a new report, the installed capacity of the sector is expected to increase from 1.5 GW in 2025 to 6.5 GW by 2030.
India is seeing a growth in data center infrastructure. According to a new report, the installed capacity of the sector is expected to increase from 1.5 GW in 2025 to 6.5 GW by 2030.
271 data centers in India are concentrated in five major cities: Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. These five cities account for about 65% of all data centers in the country, as stated in the report by Rubix Data Sciences.
Although artificial intelligence is one of the technologies rapidly scaling at present, and data centers are used for many purposes besides AI, such as supporting IT infrastructure for digital services, AI has significantly increased the energy consumption of these facilities.
Karunya Gunavathy, who grew up in the bidi manufacturing region of Tamil Nadu, witnessed women sacrificing their health for survival. Today, through the Kottravai platform, she is helping these women transition from manual bidi production to sustainable sources of income, aiming to create jobs for 10,000 women.
Kottravai operates as a private limited company and is fully self-funded, with Karunya and her co-founder investing in the enterprise. In addition to the commercial structure, Karunya plans to establish the Kottravai Foundation as a Section 8 company, which will allow it to attract government programs, corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, and grants while continuing to build social impact.
Over the next five years, the project aims to provide livelihoods for 10,000 women. Furthermore, next year, the company plans to expand its product range beyond handicrafts to include cosmetics, clothing, and bags.
VC firm Transition VC announced the launch of its second fund with a target capital of 1,500 crore rupees. The venture firm, based in Bengaluru and specializing in the energy transition segment, previously raised 723 crore rupees through its first fund. The firm stated that the first fund achieved an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 57% and delivered a multiple greater than 3x on invested capital.
Under the second fund, Transition VC announced plans to invest between $2 and $5 million in each of more than 20 engineer-led startups over four years, starting in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. The venture firm noted that there were no write-offs in the first fund, and several companies have already achieved profitability, received follow-on funding, and are scaling to annual revenues exceeding 100 crore rupees.
The new fund will also selectively evaluate emerging opportunities in areas such as nuclear and geothermal energy and next-generation infrastructure.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reported on Tuesday in Lok Sabha that ex-Agniveers will receive a 50% quota for constable (general duty) and rifleman positions in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles.
In response to a written question, junior minister of Home Affairs Nitinand Rai stated that the government has created a new category of 'ex-Agniveer' for the specified posts, providing for 50% of vacancies. Furthermore, candidates from the first batch of ex-Agniveers are provided with a three-year deferment of the established upper age limit and a five-year age limit beyond the established one.
Additionally, Nitinand Rai added that ex-Agniveers applying for constable (general duty) and rifleman positions in the CAPF will be exempted from undergoing the physical standards test, physical fitness test, and written examination. Rai also noted that a special unit has been established within the Ministry of Home Affairs to coordinate the further progression of ex-Agniveers.
The first batch of Agniveers has not yet completed their four-year term of service. In December 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification that amended the Recruitment Rules for the Personnel of the Coast Guard, General Duty (Non-State) 2015, increasing the quota for ex-Agniveers for constable (general duty) positions from 10% to 50%.
According to this notification, in direct recruitment (including 50%), vacancies will be reserved for ex-Agniveers in every recruitment year, 10% for service veterans, and up to 3% for combat constables (workers) when filling annual vacancies. The CRPF made similar amendments to the recruitment rules last May.
Government initiatives are capable of fundamentally changing people's lives. A similar shift has occurred in the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, thanks to the 'Youth Self-Employment Scheme' (Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana). According to data from the Department of Small Enterprises, over 3500 young people have utilized this program over the past three years to start their own businesses. The Department asserts that many of these entrepreneurs now provide employment opportunities for other people.
Tulsi Verma from Phagalganj, Kanpur, received a loan from the Department of Small Enterprises under the 'Youth Self-Employment Scheme' two years ago. She used the funds to purchase large equipment for various types of printing. Today, her enterprise handles printing and packaging of products for numerous companies, including those from Kanpur.
Tulsi Verma shared that her husband was previously employed, but business development was hindered by a lack of starting capital. It was then that she learned about the 'Youth Self-Employment Scheme.' After contacting department staff and receiving the loan, she installed new equipment. Her print shop currently employs about a dozen people. The business is developing successfully, and she plans to expand it. She urges skilled youth to take advantage of this program to launch their ventures and create jobs for others.
Similarly, Arpit Kumar from Kalyanapur applied for the 'Youth Self-Employment Scheme' and opened an internet cafe. His cafe prepares work-related documents and provides various online services and handles municipal administration tasks. Several employees currently work at his cafe.
Arpit Kumar noted that after learning about the program, he submitted an application, underwent training, and was able to open his internet cafe. Thanks to the department's support, he secured a loan of 500,000 rupees from a bank that includes a subsidy. He emphasized that gathering such a large sum independently was difficult. He now has young people working for him who are learning the profession. He also plans to apply for a loan under the same program in the future to open his own internet cafe.
Andgeneesh Pratap Singh, Deputy Director of the Department of Small Enterprises, stated that the department implements three self-employment programs initiated by the Chief Minister. According to him, more than 3500 young people in Kanpur have started their businesses by receiving loans through these programs. The Department claims that many of these entrepreneurs provide employment to thousands of people.
