New Delhi, June 26 -- India is racing to become a global AI data centre hub, offering tax breaks and attracting billions in foreign investment. These facilities consume vast amounts of water for cooling, raising concerns in water-stressed states like Maharashtra. Can India strike a balance between its AI ambition and its resource constraints, or will shortages play a spoilsport? Mint explores.







Mumbai has a 53% share of India's data centre capacity. Mumbai's strategic advantages - hosting multiple subsea cable landing stations, and its status as the financial capital with a robust technology ecosystem - have created strong demand for secure, high‑capacity infrastructure. Reliable power supply, government incentives and land av...