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The Indian government is considering extending the deadline for public feedback on the draft rules of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act by an additional two weeks beyond the initial February 18, 2025, cutoff. This potential extension aims to provide stakeholders with more time to thoroughly review and comment on the proposed regulations.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the draft rules earlier this month, initiating a 45-day period for public consultation. In a recent industry meeting held in New Delhi, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the government’s commitment to conducting comprehensive consultations to ensure all stakeholder perspectives are considered. The objective is to balance innovation with regulation, fostering an environment conducive to technological growth while safeguarding personal data.

Attendees of the consultation included representatives from major technology companies such as Snap, Google, Meta, and OpenAI, as well as industry bodies like Nasscom, Broadband India Forum, and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI). Key concerns raised during the discussions encompassed the potential compliance burdens associated with issuing new notices to existing users and the implications of proposed data localization requirements, which some fear may conflict with international regulations.

The DPDP Act, enacted in August 2023, seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for the processing of digital personal data in India, balancing individual privacy rights with the necessity for lawful data processing. The draft rules detail provisions related to data fiduciary responsibilities, consent management, data breach notifications, and the processing of children’s personal data, among other aspects.

Stakeholders are encouraged to utilize the extended consultation period to provide detailed feedback, ensuring the final regulations effectively address the diverse interests and concerns within India’s digital ecosystem.

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Microsoft has announced a $3 billion investment to expand its Azure cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capacities in India over the next two years. This move emphasizes India’s importance as a key growth market for technology, given its expertise and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the investment will focus on upskilling Indian professionals in AI, building on Microsoft’s plan to invest $80 billion in AI-enabled data centers. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted India’s significant contributions to AI projects, particularly through GitHub Copilot, and noted that India is projected to have the largest developer community by 2028. Microsoft plans to train 10 million people in AI by 2030, following the upskilling of 2.4 million individuals last year. The investment reflects the ongoing competition among U.S. tech giants to capture and nurture technological talent in India.

This strategic expansion aligns with Microsoft’s broader vision to support India’s growing digital economy and underscores the nation’s pivotal role in the global technology landscape. By enhancing its infrastructure and focusing on skill development, Microsoft aims to empower individuals and organizations across India, fostering innovation and contributing to the country’s long-term competitiveness in the AI domain.

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India is poised to host over 620 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) of Forbes Global 2000 companies by 2030, marking a nearly 40% increase from the current 450 companies operating 825 such centres, according to a study by consulting firm ANSR.

This expansion is expected to boost the talent base at these GCCs by 45%, reaching 1.9 million professionals. Notably, 45% of existing GCCs have expanded their operations across multiple Indian cities. A significant majority are focusing on advanced technologies: 85% on artificial intelligence and data analytics, 80% on cloud computing, 75% on robotics process automation, 70% on digital commerce and cybersecurity, and 45% on emerging technologies like blockchain, augmented and virtual reality, and the Internet of Things.

This growth underscores India’s evolution from a low-cost outsourcing hub to a critical operational center for global companies, driven by its substantial talent pool and mature offshoring ecosystem. The GCC market in India is projected to reach $105 billion by 2030, up from $64.6 billion in fiscal 2024.

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