Bengaluru, Sept. 26 -- Artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology are likely to form the next major area of infrastructure investment for India, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, while calling for greater investment in AI hardware, training and skills.

Speaking at an interactive session at IIT Madras Alumni Association's Sangam 2026 in Bengaluru, Sitharaman said India needs to strengthen its existing digital infrastructure and build greater capacity to support the adoption of AI across sectors.

"So the next large investment in infrastructure would, I think, be AI, semiconductor chips, and building on them quantum," Sitharaman said.

She said India still needs significant investment in AI hardware and in...