The Frontier Tech Hub of the Government of India’s apex policy think tank, NITI Aayog, published a Data Centre Evaluation Framework on 14 October 2026 to help Indian states assess proposed investments. It provides common assessment principles without creating additional regulation or prescribing a uniform approach.
The framework offers a common set of parameters for evaluating data centre proposals in India and is organised around five pillars – power and energy; water and cooling; siting and environmental sustainability; economic and strategic value; and policy, governance and implementation. For each pillar it outlines detailed criteria, recommended minimum approval documents and the respective roles of the central government, which is to provide national standards, model guidance and templates, and the state governments, which are to coordinate infrastructure, set conditions and monitor delivery. The guidance is presented as a decision support tool rather than a prescriptive regulation and includes proposals for a digital single window mechanism and milestone‑based monitoring.
by Digital Watch Observatory – NITI Aayog publishes data centre evaluation framework
