Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced the company’s plans to invest US $3 billion in India in cloud and AI infrastructure and skilling over the next two years, including the establishment of new data centers. This investment aims to develop a scalable AI computing ecosystem to meet the growing demands of India’s rapidly expanding AI start-ups and research community.

Microsoft will also support India’s long-term competitiveness by training 10 million people over the next five years with AI skills, as part of the second edition of its ADVANTA(I)GE India program.

“India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organisations across the country benefit broadly,” said Satya Nadella.

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Microsoft will expand its cloud and AI infrastructure across datacenter campuses in the country. Microsoft already has three data center regions in the market, and the fourth ready to go live in 2026. 

Equipping 10 million Indians with essential AI skills by 2030

In 2024, Microsoft launched the ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative with the ambitious goal of training two million people in AI skills by 2025. Microsoft has surpassed this target ahead of schedule with 2.4 million individuals trained in under a year. Notably, 65% of the participants were women, and 74% came from tier II and tier III cities, ensuring inclusive coverage across the entire country.

Today, the company announced its next milestone, to equip 10 million more Indians with essential AI skills by 2030. ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA is part of Microsoft’s Global Skills for Social Impact charter, and these trainings will be delivered in partnership with the government, nonprofit and corporate organizations, and communities.

Over the next five years, Microsoft will partner with ministries, state governments, and NGOs to train ten million Indians in AI skills under its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative – fueling productivity and opening doors to jobs. 

The initiative builds on a previous program of the same name that has skilled 2.4 million Indians, from civil servants to college students to people with disabilities. 

“We aim to not only enhance employability but also bridge the digital divide and create a more inclusive future for every Indian,” said Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South India.