Rewind 2024: Top enterprise tech developments in India

As 2024 comes to a close, India stands at the forefront of a technology revolution, driven by ground-breaking initiatives led by both the government and the private sector. From harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to bolstering its quantum and cybersecurity efforts and from expanding in data centres to investing in cloud, sustainability and more, the country is scripting a compelling narrative of progress and self-reliance, albeit not without challenges that need to be addressed head-on. Here’s a look at some of the most defining enterprise technologies in India this year.
 
Fostering growth and innovation through AI
 
In 2024, India has solidified its position in the global arena of AI through a combination of national missions, state-level projects, and collaborative initiatives with global technology giants, such as Nvidia, IBM, Microsoft and more. On March 7, the Central government announced the launch and implementation of the IndiaAI Mission through a public-private partnership model aimed at nurturing India’s AI innovation ecosystem. States such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana are utilising AI for regional growth and research investment.
 
Unlike in 2023, when AI was mostly experimental, it is now widely adopted to enhance lives and businesses. Start-ups are developing their own large language models (LLMs), and AI applications are shifting from marketing to sales, with customers eager to understand AI strategies. Despite a critical shortage of strong AI leadership in the industry, AI is creating new job opportunities across sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, banking, and agriculture. A Nasscom-EY report estimates the Indian AI market at $7-10 billion, with projections of $22 billion by 2027, and six out of 10 large enterprises have integrated AI into their operations.
 
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has introduced a framework for a new Digital India Act to address high-risk AI systems. More recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the formation of an eight-member committee for developing an ethical AI framework for the finance sector.
 
Data centre investments on the rise
 
Leading players like AdaniConneX, Yotta Infrastructure, and Nxtra (Airtel) have announced substantial investments in building hyperscale data centres. For instance, Hyderabad-based CtrlS Datacenters announced plans to invest Rs 400 crore in its upcoming facility in Patna and another one in Hyderabad. Hiranandani Group-owned Yotta Data Services inaugurated new data in GIFT city (in Gandhinagar) with an investment of over Rs 500 crore over five years. Airtel’s data centre company Nxtra has announced its plans to invest about ₹5,000 crore in the next three years to double capacity to around 400 megawatts.
 
Additionally, data center companies are looking extensively at tier-2, and 3 cities to expand their footprint. CtrlS Datacenters plans to establish 20 such Edge data centres across tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India. Likewise, Yotta has selected North Eastern state Assam to expand its edge facilities to cater to growing demands for computation.
 
“Times have changed with the advent of edge and container data centres, turning tier-2, 3 cities into lucrative destinations for data centre investments,” Piyush Somani, the founder and CEO told TechCircle in an earlier interview.
 
Read more: Rewind 2024: Factors that Impacted India’s data centre industry
 
India inching closer to its quantum ambition
 
India advanced in quantum technology in 2024, driven by the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with a budget of Rs 6,003.65 crore. The NQM established four thematic hubs: IISc Bengaluru for quantum computing, IIT Madras for quantum communication, IIT Bombay for quantum sensing and metrology, and IIT Delhi for quantum materials and devices. 
 
Under the NQM, the government supported eight startups, including QNu Labs and QPiAI India, focusing on quantum communication, superconducting computing, and precision devices. These efforts aim to foster innovation and enterprise in the quantum sector. 
 
According to a report by the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), India's quantum computing market reached $1 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27%, potentially reaching $7 billion by 2032. Growth drivers include government initiatives and collaborations such as the UK-India tech security partnership, which promotes investment in emerging technologies. 
 
Read more: India must become quantum secure in 2-3 yrs: Ajai Chowdhry
 
In May, IIT Bombay, in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), also introduced plans for a Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager, targeting advancements in quantum sensing and imaging. 

Enhanced Cybersecurity in the digital age
 
In 2024, India witnessed a surge in cybercrime targeting critical infrastructure, healthcare, and financial sectors, with hackers employing advanced techniques like ransomware and AI voice cloning to launch attacks. The increasing prevalence of scams related to "digital arrests" and impersonation also hit the headlines. These trends raised significant concerns regarding the necessity for enhanced cybersecurity measures across various sectors.
 
Read more: Rewind 2024: Major cyber-attacks that shook India this year
 
In response, enterprises also looked for ways to leverage AI/GenAI to secure their businesses, but Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer, TCS, believes that despite increased adoption of AI in the realm of security, many firms continue to struggle with implementation and feel unprepared for large-scale adoption. He stated that building a fully AI-capable organisation can help in this regard.
 
Technologies such as Cloud security remain crucial, with many adopting strong measures like encryption and access controls. Companies using a Zero Trust model and an 'automation-first' strategy for detection and response have gained a competitive edge. Cyber resilience is also a priority, as Veeam's Anand Eswaran stressed the importance of fostering resilience to minimise disruptions from attacks.
 
Despite a rise in attacks and adoption challenges, India has improved its global cybersecurity standing, achieving Tier 1 status on the Global Cybersecurity Index, reflecting its commitment to robust cybersecurity practices.
 
Businesses favour hybrid and multi-cloud environments
 
Indian businesses recognise the benefits of multiple cloud environments and are actively integrating hybrid multi-cloud architectures into their operations. Notably, a lot of businesses are shifting workloads from public cloud to hybrid cloud models. Referred to as repatriation, this strategy is prompted by the need for flexibility, easy implementation, and the avoidance of depending on a single provider for their cloud needs. 
 
Further, a multi-cloud strategy empowers organisations to choose the best capabilities from any of the cloud providers, catering to their specific needs, critical for industries such as financial services, healthcare and fintech and others that are evolving customer demands.
 
“In 2025, the convergence of AI and multi-cloud will redefine how businesses operate, innovate, and compete. As organisations shift from experimentation to enterprise-wide AI implementation, the need for seamless, secure, and agile IT infrastructure becomes paramount,” said Premalakshmi PR, vice president, of technology cloud, Oracle India.

Semiconductor gets a boost

This year marks a milestone for India's semiconductor industry with the government's announcement of the first fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat, developed with Tata Electronics and Taiwan's PSMC, at an investment of Rs 91,000 crore. Additionally, two ATMP units have been approved—one in Assam, with an investment of Rs 27,000 crore, projected to create 15,000 direct and 13,000 indirect jobs, and another in Dholera. An OSAT facility is also being developed by CG Power in partnership with Japan's Renesas and Thailand's Stars Microelectronics, with an investment of Rs 7,600 crore.

Overall, the semiconductor sector has attracted Rs 1.26 lakh crore in investments, including a packaging unit by Micron Technology and a new unit by Kaynes Semicon in Sanand, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 3,300 crore, expected to produce 60 lakh chips daily. The Maharashtra government further approved a chip manufacturing project by Tower Semiconductor of Israel and the Adani Group in Panvel, Raigad district, with an initial investment of Rs 58,763 crore and an additional Rs 25,184 crore for the next phase. In October American chip maker Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang on his visit to India also proposed a collaboration with India to co-develop an artificial intelligence (AI) chip.  
 
More focus on IT Sustainability  
 
Additionally, Indian enterprises have increasingly focused on sustainability, integrating it into their core operations. Many companies are adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks to align with global sustainability goals.
 
The Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) framework has been a key tool for businesses to track and report their sustainability efforts. Major firms are investing in renewable energy, with Reliance Industries leading efforts to produce green hydrogen using solar energy. The company aims to generate 3 Gigawatts of solar energy to support its green hydrogen production, contributing to India's 2030 target of producing five million tonnes of green hydrogen. 

Read more: Sustainable Cloud Computing: A path to greener business operations
 
Moreover, Indian manufacturers are exploring Industry 5.0, which focuses on human-centric technology to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. Digital solutions are also being employed in waste management, with startups like Recykal digitising waste processing and recycling, helping to divert over one million metric tons of waste from landfills. In collaboration with global companies, Indian firms like Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) are working to reduce carbon emissions in sectors like steel production, using hydrogen and biochar.