Jitendra Singh Says Nuclear Power Will Meet India’s Rising AI and Data Centre Demand
Union Minister Jitendra Singh highlights nuclear energy’s role in meeting India’s rising AI and data centre electricity demand, outlining the country’s 100 GW nuclear capacity target by 2047 and net-zero emissions goal by 2070.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Bloomberg Economy Forum 2026, Singh said the vision of Dr. Homi Bhabha, the architect of India’s nuclear programme, continued to guide the country’s use of nuclear technology for national development.
He linked the expansion of nuclear power to India’s targets of achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070. According to the Minister, nuclear energy would complement other power sources by providing a continuous and reliable supply of clean electricity.
Singh highlighted the growing electricity requirements of AI applications and data centres, noting that both require substantial and uninterrupted power supplies. He said dependable electricity infrastructure would be essential to supporting a technology-driven economy as India advances its development goals.
Discussing the broader applications of artificial intelligence, Singh described AI as a tool that could be used across multiple sectors, including space and life sciences. However, he stressed that human judgement remained important in determining how the technology should be deployed.
“One has to be intelligent enough to use Artificial Intelligence,” he said.
While acknowledging the significant benefits offered by AI, Singh cautioned that preventing its misuse remained a challenge. He emphasised that regulation alone would not be sufficient, highlighting individual and national integrity as essential elements of responsible technology adoption.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s decision to open critical and sensitive sectors to non-government players. He said the move had expanded opportunities for private industry to contribute to innovation, technological advancement and national development.
Singh’s remarks placed reliable energy infrastructure, responsible AI adoption and greater private-sector participation at the centre of India’s long-term development strategy. As the country works towards its nuclear capacity target of 100 GW by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070, nuclear power is expected to complement other electricity sources while supporting the rising energy requirements of emerging technologies.

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