‘Move over oil economy, future belongs to data-driven tech’

Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said his govt's decision to establish a State Data Centre Authority would position UP as a leading hub in the emerging data and AI economy. Highlighting the growing importance of data in the global economic landscape, the CM said that while the world once revolved around the "oil economy", the future belongs to data-driven technologies.
"Today, AI is gaining prominence and it has the potential to take the place that oil once held in the global economy. AI requires robust data centres, and Uttar Pradesh took steps to promote this sector," he said, adding that the state govt has set a target of setting up data centres with capacity up to 5 gigawatts by 2030. Yogi noted that before 2017, Uttar Pradesh had very limited data centre infrastructure. However, in recent years, the state made significant progress in creating a favourable ecosystem for data centres through policy support, infrastructure development and investment facilitation. Yogi said that the focus of his govt will be on setting up of AI hubs and startups for various sectors like education, health and agriculture to position Uttar Pradesh as a centre of emerging technology. He announced a scheme under which "digital entrepreneurs" would be selected in 8,000 nyay panchayats. "Half of the digital entrepreneurs will be women. Govt will also provide interest-free loan of up to Rs 10 lakh to entrepreneurs," he added.The CM also announced a new scheme, Women Entrepreneur Product Marketing Centre, modelled after She Mart scheme announced in the Union Budget. "Provision of Rs 1,000 crore was made to ensure six million safe deliveries annually. Arrangements will also be made at empaneled hospitals, and incentives will be provided," Yogi said, adding that motherhood and childhood would be safe.