MAINS Current Affairs includes Sustainable Cooling of Data Centres in India & India and Gulf: From Passive Beneficiary to Security Provider

Science and Technology/ Environment

1. Sustainable Cooling of Data Centres in India

Context: Following sustained protests by civil society groups, Google has announced that its proposed 1-GW data centre in Visakhapatnam district will adopt air-cooling technology for server cooling.

• The development has renewed attention to the water, electricity, environmental and infrastructure challenges associated with the rapid expansion of data centres in India.

Data Centres in India

• India’s data-centre capacity has expanded rapidly, increasing from around 520 MW in 2020 to nearly 1.5 GW currently, almost a threefold rise.
• By 2030, capacity is projected to reach approximately 5 GW, representing nearly a fourfold expansion in four years.
• Electricity consumption by data centres is expected to increase substantially:
  • From around 13 TWh in 2024
  • To nearly 57 TWh by 2030.
• The Union Ministry of Power estimates that AI alone could generate an additional 26.3 GW of electricity demand by 2031–32.
• Major data-centre clusters are concentrated around established technology hubs such as:
  • Mumbai
  • Hyderabad
  • Bengaluru
  • National Capital Region (NCR)
• These locations also face significant water scarcity and electricity-grid stress, making sustainable siting and cooling particularly important.

Why are Data Centres Water-Intensive?

• Data centres operate servers and other computing equipment continuously, generating enormous amounts of heat.
• In principle, a 1-GW data centre produces approximately 1 GW of heat, which must be continuously removed to maintain safe operating temperatures.
• Cooling infrastructure is therefore indispensable and can account for approximately 30–40% of a data centre’s total energy consumption.
• Conventional water-cooled chillers and cooling towers can require substantial quantities of freshwater, particularly in large facilities.

Major Data Centre Cooling Technologies

• Air Cooling
  • Fans circulate cooled air through or around server racks.
  • Hot air generated by the servers is collected, cooled and recirculated.
  • It can significantly reduce the direct dependence on freshwater compared with water-intensive cooling systems.
• Direct Liquid Cooling
  • A coolant is brought very close to, or directly into contact with, high-heat-generating components.
  • It provides efficient heat removal and is particularly relevant for high-performance computing.
• Immersion Cooling
  • Electronic components are immersed directly in a non-conductive liquid.
  • The liquid absorbs the heat generated during computing without causing electrical short circuits.
• Evaporative Cooling
  • Heat is transferred from the servers to water.
  • The water is subsequently evaporated through cooling towers or evaporative condensers, thereby removing heat from the system.
  • While effective, this technology can involve considerable water consumption.

Concerns with Expansion of Data Centres

1. Water Consumption

• A 100-MW data centre can consume approximately 2 million litres of water per day, equivalent to the daily water use of around 6,500 households.
• India’s data centres are estimated to have consumed around 150 billion litres of water during 2024–25.
• This figure is projected to more than double to approximately 358 billion litres annually by 2030.
• Concentration of facilities in already water-stressed urban and industrial regions can intensify competition for freshwater resources.

2. Trade-offs of Air Cooling

• Air cooling can substantially reduce direct on-site freshwater consumption.
• However, the reduction in water use can be accompanied by increased electricity requirements.
• India’s data-centre power demand is projected to rise from approximately 5 GW currently to around 17 GW by 2031–32.
• Thus, reducing water consumption at the facility level does not necessarily eliminate the broader water footprint of electricity generation, particularly where thermal power is involved.

3. Pressure on India’s Power Grid

• Rapidly growing data-centre and AI demand could place additional stress on an already constrained electricity grid.
• India reportedly curtailed around 300 GWh of renewable electricity in the first quarter of 2026 because the existing grid infrastructure could not transmit all available power.
• During the preceding five years, India achieved only about 80% of its annual transmission targets.
• This creates a potential mismatch between rapidly expanding computing infrastructure and the infrastructure required to supply it reliably.

4. Renewable Energy Challenges

• Renewable-energy generation, particularly solar power, is expanding faster than the transmission infrastructure required to evacuate the electricity.
• Data centres require reliable and uninterrupted power, making grid connectivity particularly important.
• If renewable electricity cannot be transmitted to data-centre clusters, additional demand may have to be met through coal-based generation, increasing carbon emissions.

5. Rise in Surface Temperature

• A study cited in the source found that data centres can increase land-surface temperatures by an average of around 2°C within a 10-km radius.
• In extreme cases, the increase was estimated to reach 1°C.
• Approximately 340 million people globally are estimated to live within areas affected by such temperature increases.
• This highlights the potential interaction between large-scale computing infrastructure and local urban heat conditions.

6. Noise Pollution

• Large-scale air-cooling infrastructure requires extensive chillers and air-handling units, which can generate substantial noise.
• Such equipment can produce sound levels approaching 100 dB, creating concerns for surrounding communities and workers.

7. Governance Gap

• Several state data-centre policies provide substantial incentives, including:
  • Electricity-duty exemptions.
  • Transmission-charge waivers.
  • Stamp-duty concessions.
  • Fast-track regulatory clearances.
• However, according to the source, major state policies do not mandate a grid-impact assessment before commissioning.
• This creates a governance gap because data-centre expansion can impose significant additional demands on water systems, electricity networks and local infrastructure.

Way Ahead

• Mandatory Water-Use Disclosure
• Data-centre operators should be required to disclose both:
  • Direct water consumption at the facility.
  • Indirect water consumption associated with electricity generation.
• Transparent reporting would enable regulators to assess the true water footprint of digital infrastructure.
• Water-Stress-Based Site Selection
• Large data centres should not be concentrated in areas experiencing severe groundwater or freshwater stress.
• Site selection should incorporate local water availability and long-term climate risks.
• Greater Use of Treated Wastewater
• Freshwater should not be treated as the default cooling source.
• Treated wastewater and other suitable non-potable sources should be prioritised wherever technically feasible.
• Renewable Energy Integration
• Data centres should increasingly integrate renewable electricity through appropriate procurement and generation arrangements.
• Greater renewable integration can reduce dependence on water-intensive thermal power generation and lower associated emissions.
• Grid and Energy-Storage Expansion
• India needs accelerated investment in:
  • Transmission infrastructure
  • Grid modernisation
  • Energy-storage systems
  • Reliable renewable-energy integration
• Strengthening these systems will be essential to accommodate the rapidly rising electricity requirements associated with AI and data centres.

Conclusion

India’s digital economy and AI ecosystem will require substantial expansion of data-centre infrastructure. However, this growth cannot come at the cost of water security, grid stability, local environmental quality and climate objectives. A sustainable data-centre strategy should therefore combine water-efficient cooling, responsible site selection, treated wastewater use, renewable-energy integration, stronger transmission networks and mandatory environmental disclosures. The objective should be to build digital infrastructure that is not only technologically advanced but also resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable.

International Relations

2. India and Gulf: From Passive Beneficiary to Security Provider

Context: The growing involvement of external powers and emerging regional security arrangements in West Asia has important implications for India’s:

• Trade and maritime routes
• Energy security
• Strategic interests
• Millions of Indian citizens residing and working in the Gulf.
• The changing security environment highlights the need for India to move beyond being merely a beneficiary of regional stability towards becoming an active contributor to regional security.

About Gulf/West Asia

• West Asia is central to India’s energy security, trade, diaspora welfare and maritime connectivity.
• The Gulf is a major economic partner, while the wider region links the Indian Ocean with Europe through the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb and Red Sea.

India’s Stakes in West Asia/Gulf

• Energy Security:
  • West Asia continues to be a major source of India’s crude oil and natural gas.
  • Instability in the region can therefore directly affect India’s energy availability and prices.
• Indian Diaspora:
  • Millions of Indians live and work across Gulf countries.
  • Their security, employment and welfare are therefore important components of India’s foreign policy.
• Remittances:
  • Employment of Indians in the Gulf generates substantial remittance inflows, supporting household incomes and India’s foreign-exchange position.
• Trade and Connectivity:
  • West Asia serves as an important gateway for India–Europe trade.
  • Emerging initiatives such as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) further increase the region’s strategic importance.
• Strategic Geography:
• Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb or Red Sea can rapidly affect Indian shipping, energy supplies and global supply chains.

India–West Asia Relations

• Strategic Distance & Hedging: For decades, India largely viewed West Asia through an economic and diaspora-centric lens.
  • It maintained relations with competing countries i.e. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel and the UAEwithout becoming part of any regional security bloc.
  • This approach, now described as multi-alignment, offered considerable flexibility.
  • India could simultaneously obtain energy, access Gulf capital, protect its diaspora and maintain relations with Iran and Israel.
  • From Economics to Strategic Engagement: India’s engagement has already deepened through defence cooperation, intelligence exchanges, maritime exercises, counter-terrorism cooperation and strategic partnerships with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Oman and other regional states.
  • However, the regional environment is changingfaster than India’s traditional diplomatic mechanisms.
• A perceived US shift towards selective engagementhas encouraged West Asian states to seek alternative and more dependable security partners.
• The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan combines Saudi financial resources, Turkish defence capabilities and Pakistani military expertise, signalling that new security architectures can emerge without Indian participation.

Why Is India’s Approach Under Pressure?

• Changing US Role
• Greater uncertainty surrounding Washington’s long-term security commitments is creating concerns about a potential regional security vacuum.
• This encourages regional states to diversify their security partnerships.
• Rise of Hard-Power Diplomacy
• Gulf countries increasingly seek more than economic cooperation.
• Their priorities include:
  • Defence technology
  • Intelligence capabilities
  • Naval security
  • Counter-terrorism cooperation
  • Advanced surveillance and security systems.
• Regional Conflicts
• Conflicts and tensions involving Iran, Yemen, Sudan, the Red Sea and the wider Gulf have interconnected security consequences.
• Instability in one theatre can rapidly affect maritime routes, energy infrastructure and trade.
• Infrastructure Vulnerability
• Recent drone and other grey-zone attacks demonstrate that even highly sophisticated:
  • Ports
  • Energy installations
  • Logistics hubs
    remain vulnerable to asymmetric threats.
• Fragile Trade Corridors
• Maritime chokepoints and overland corridors are only as secure as their most unstable geographical link.
• Therefore, economic connectivity requires corresponding security arrangements.
• Competition from Regional Powers
• Türkiye, Pakistan and other external actors are expanding their strategic presence in West Asia.
• This increases competition for influence and security partnerships.

India’s Vulnerabilities

1. Energy Security

• Instability around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman could disrupt India’s energy supplies.
• Supply disruptions can also contribute to higher oil and gas prices, affecting the wider Indian economy.

2. Maritime and Trade Security

• The Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb are critical arteries of international commerce.
• Disruptions in these narrow maritime passages can:
  • Delay shipping.
  • Increase insurance costs.
  • Raise transportation expenses.
  • Disrupt global and Indian supply chains.

3. Diaspora Security

• Millions of Indians reside and work in Gulf countries.
• Regional instability can therefore directly affect:
  • Indian citizens
  • Remittance flows
  • Evacuation and repatriation operations
• India needs the capacity to protect and evacuate its citizens during regional crises.

4. Connectivity

• Initiatives such as IMEC depend on political and physical stability across West Asia.
• Disruptions to Red Sea shipping have demonstrated that even advanced ports and logistics networks remain vulnerable to drones, missiles and other asymmetric threats.

Way Forward:

• India should evolve from a passive beneficiary of regional stability into an active contributor to it, without abandoning strategic autonomy.
• Strengthen Maritime Security:Expand naval cooperation across the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Somali coast and Bab-el-Mandeb through joint patrols, logistics access and interoperable surveillance.
• Build Minilateral Security Networks:Deepen operational partnerships with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and other willing states, while avoiding rigid alliance commitments.
• Leverage Defence Manufacturing:Offer India as a reliable supplier of defence platforms, surveillance systems and maritime technologies, alongside joint production and exercises.
• Expand Intelligence & Counter-terrorism Cooperation:Institutionalised intelligence-sharing can address terrorism, drones, piracy and other grey-zone threats.
• Protect Connectivity:Integrate IMEC and other trade corridors with maritime-security planning so that economic connectivity is backed by strategic resilience.

Conclusion

• India’s policy of multi-alignment remains strategically valuable, but diplomatic flexibility alone cannot substitute for credible security capabilities in an increasingly contested West Asia.
• India should avoid unnecessary alliance entanglement while developing a flexible deterrence web based on:
  • Maritime power
  • Defence cooperation
  • Intelligence sharing
  • Strategic partnerships

Moving from a passive beneficiary to a credible security provider would enable India to better safeguard its energy arteries, maritime trade, diaspora and connectivity projects, while strengthening its wider aspiration to emerge as a leading global power.

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