Microsoft has unveiled its largest-ever investment in Asia, committing over US$17.5 billion (approximately ₹1.5 lakh crore) to accelerate India’s artificial intelligence capabilities. The announcement came after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.
“Thank you, PM Narendra Modiji, for an inspiring conversation on India’s AI opportunity. To support the country’s ambitions, Microsoft is committing US$17.5 billion—our largest investment ever in Asia—to help build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for India’s AI-first future,” Nadella said.
Responding to the announcement, Prime Minister Modi said, “When it comes to AI, the world is optimistic about India. Had a very productive discussion with Satya Nadella. Happy to see India being the place where Microsoft will make its largest-ever investment in Asia. The youth of India will harness this opportunity to innovate and leverage the power of AI for a better planet.”
In a press statement released shortly after the meeting, Microsoft emphasized that the new investment builds on its earlier US$3 billion commitment aimed at strengthening cloud and AI infrastructure in Bengaluru over the next two years. This includes major upskilling initiatives and the establishment of new data centres, which will give Microsoft the “largest hyperscale presence in India.”
“India stands at a pivotal moment in its AI journey—one defined by impact at scale and a determination to lead,” the company said. “As technology becomes a catalyst for inclusive growth and economic transformation, India is emerging as a frontier AI nation. Against this backdrop, today we are announcing our largest investment in Asia—US$17.5 billion over four years.”
Microsoft’s nearly US$20 billion commitment over the coming years underscores India’s importance as a fast-growing market for global technology giants racing to expand digital and AI infrastructure. (Source: NDTV)
