Microsoft To Invest ₹2.58 Lakh Crore In India, Satya Nadella Announces; These Sectors To Benefit

Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella on Tuesday announced an investment worth ₹2.58 Lakh Crore in Bengaluru, India at the Microsoft AI Tour in Bengaluru.

The company has shared a comprehensive plan to train and skill 10 million people by 2030 in the country which is aligned with the government's policy of being an AI-first nation.

Microsoft launched the ADVANT(I)AGE India initiative in 2024, with the ambition of training two million people in AI skills by 2025.

AI is an essential skill for working professional and since Indian professionals are leading the way in learning and skill-building, they have become early adopters of AI, with a 122% year-over-year increase in Indian members adding AI skills to their profiles on LinkedIn as compared to the 71% globally.

The Microsoft Research Lab has launched an AI Innovation Network, which is an initiative to accelerate the transition from research to real, usable business solutions.

Microsoft has also signed an MoU with SaaSBoomi to propel India's AI and SaaS ecosystem towards a trillion-dollar economy, aiming to impact over 5,000 startups and 10,000 entrepreneurs.

Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft said, “India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly.”

Puneet Chandok, president, Microsoft India and South Asia said, “In the last 12 months Microsoft has been a copilot to making AI a reality in India, taking it from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers. Today’s announcement strengthens our belief in India’s potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace. We will continue to use AI to unlock possibilities for the next few decades and ensure communities across the country have access to the compute they need to prosper in the AI era.”

What Sectors Will Benefit?

The Microsoft-led AI revolution will benefit digital natives, startups as well as developers.