Maharashtra is setting its sights on becoming India’s leading hub for artificial intelligence (AI), leveraging its established reputation as the nation’s data center and fintech center, announced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Nasscom 2025.
The state, which currently accounts for 60 percent of India’s data center capacity concentrated in and around Navi Mumbai, recently attracted investments worth $20 billion in AI and data centers during the Davos event. “We have developed a new data center park in Navi Mumbai, and substantial investments in data centers are on the horizon,” Fadnavis remarked in a conversation with Srikanth Velamakanni, co-founder and CEO of Fractal.
To accommodate the expanding data center infrastructure, Maharashtra has plans to boost its power generation from the current 45 gigawatts to 75 gigawatts by 2030, with 52 percent of this expected to come from renewable sources. “Initially, we aim to provide a mix of green and conventional energy to data centers. However, we envision a future where all of this power is sourced from renewable energy,” the Chief Minister elaborated.
The state has initiated an AI mission and established a committee of industry leaders to formulate a new AI policy. “Our mandate is to position Maharashtra as a leader in the AI domain,” Fadnavis remarked. The government is also collaborating with Microsoft to train 10,000 women in AI proficiencies.
Maharashtra is additionally emerging as the startup capital of India, boasting around 20,000 startups, leading in both total numbers and investment inflow. Approximately 35 percent of these startups are engaged in the fintech sector, underscoring Mumbai’s role as the fintech epicenter.
The state is actively fostering Global Capability Centers (GCCs), planning to establish specialized ecosystems in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Sambhajinagar, and Nashik. “We are developing a GCC park in Navi Mumbai, which will host several GCCs. We are currently in advanced discussions with four or five potential centers,” revealed Fadnavis.
A new 300-acre innovation city is in the works in Navi Mumbai, aimed at hosting a variety of technology, innovation, and AI initiatives. “Our objective is to create a comprehensive environment for technology and innovation in this city,” the Chief Minister stated, noting that assistance from Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran is guiding the framework’s development.
In agriculture, Maharashtra is rolling out the AgriStack program to facilitate the comprehensive digitization of farming processes. “This initiative focuses on digitalizing farmlands, farm products, and market access, covering every aspect,” Fadnavis explained. The state has also digitized multi-purpose cooperatives in rural areas to improve farmer financing and market connection.
As the state prepares for the 2027 Nashik Kumbh, it plans to utilize technology for crowd management and event organization. “This Kumbh will be technologically advanced… even those unable to participate physically will have the opportunity to experience bathing in the holy water,” Fadnavis said, while assuring that the event’s sanctity will not be compromised.
Maharashtra’s broader economic vision includes the goal of becoming India’s first trillion-dollar subnational economy. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region alone has the potential to evolve into a $1.5 trillion economy, as outlined in a roadmap created in partnership with NITI Aayog. “If we execute our plans effectively, the MMR region can indeed achieve a 1.5 trillion dollar economy,” Fadnavis stated.
