{
  "id": 14611311,
  "title": "Why NITI Aayog wants stricter power, water checks before approving data centres",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/why-niti-aayog-wants-stricter-power-water-checks-before-approving",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T04:23:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-data-centre-policy-power-water-rules-10922451/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India is preparing a dedicated policy for data centres, with the NITI Aayog's Frontier Tech Hub proposing stricter checks on power and water before approving new projects. The framework suggests states evaluate projects based on electricity and water availability, environmental safeguards, and measurable economic benefits, rather than just investment commitments. Developers must demonstrate that the electricity grid can support their proposed capacity before receiving approval, with additional electricity loads only added after necessary infrastructure upgrades. The framework recommends linking state incentives to actual economic benefits, including employment, local procurement, and renewable energy investments. For electricity consumption, developers, electricity distribution companies, and state transmission utilities must jointly prepare a Power Readiness and Ramp-up Plan, detailing total electricity requirements, sanctioned capacity, year-wise availability, infrastructure upgrades, and responsible agencies. Mandatory automated demand-response readiness and integration with State Load Dispatch Centres are required for data centres with electricity requirements above 20 megawatts. Incentives should be disbursed based on measurable outcomes, such as employment, skilling, domestic procurement, innovation, and resource efficiency. Water use and environmental safeguards are also emphasized, with states preparing a 20-30-year assessment of water availability and designating data-centre-ready zones while restricting development in environmentally vulnerable areas. Community impact assessments are required for large campuses, and a centralised audit mechanism will periodically verify compliance.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}