At the Digi Governance Knowledge Exchange Summit organised by Elets and IT Department, Government of Kerala, Aman Mittal, Joint CEO, MITRA, shared his insights.
In today’s rapidly advancing digital age, India stands at the cusp of a transformative shift in how data is gathered, managed, and utilized. The government’s focus on improving energy efficiency and creating a cohesive data infrastructure is poised to redefine digital governance and urban technology. By reducing energy costs and facilitating the integration of data-driven platforms, India is laying the groundwork for a smarter, more connected future.
The growing demand for data centers in India is central to this digital transformation. Over the next three years, the country anticipates a dedicated energy requirement of around 2 gigawatts just to support data centers. This projection has spurred new energy policies aimed at streamlining energy usage and making it easier to establish and operate data centers. By reducing operational barriers and promoting green energy solutions, India aims to bolster its digital infrastructure while keeping energy consumption in check.
However, building data centers alone is not enough. The true value of digital transformation lies in leveraging the data stored within these centers. Unfortunately, a significant challenge persists—data silos. Despite efforts at integration, data across departments often remains isolated, making it difficult to derive actionable insights. To address this, the government is now focusing on building interoperable analytical platforms. These smart platforms will enable different departments and organizations to share data more effectively, reducing redundancy and enhancing decision-making.
Central to this effort is the creation of a national data catalog. This initiative seeks to establish a single source of truth for various datasets, such as water resources, transportation, and urban development. For instance, data concerning water usage will be maintained and made accessible solely by the Water Resources Department. Other agencies can then access this verified data through standardized APIs, eliminating the need for separate data collection and analysis.
This framework also integrates Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms, further simplifying data visualization and analytics. Through GIS-enabled analytics, stakeholders can overlay datasets to gain deeper insights into urban challenges such as traffic congestion, water management, and environmental monitoring.
In addition to operational uses, the government is also prioritizing research by making curated datasets available for academic and practical applications. A longstanding issue in India has been the lack of high-quality, publicly available data suitable for scholarly research. With the introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) policy, this is set to change. The law allows the release of anonymized and value-added data for research purposes, thus encouraging innovation and development across sectors.
By connecting the dots between energy efficiency, unified data platforms, and research accessibility, India is not just building smarter cities but also a smarter data economy. The integration of robust data policies with advanced technological infrastructure is a powerful step forward in achieving sustainable digital growth.
As India progresses on this journey, the collaborative efforts between government bodies, tech industries, and research institutions will be critical. Together, they can ensure that data is not just collected but transformed into a resource that empowers innovation, sustains urban growth, and enhances quality of life for millions.
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