Piotech

Data centres power demand to hit 13.56 GW by 2031-32

Electricity demand from data centres in the country is expected to reach 13.56 gigawatt by 2031-32, Parliament was informed on Friday. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada said the total data centre capacity in the country increased from 375 megawatt (MW) in 2020 to around 1,500 MW by 2025. “The expected electricity demand from the growth of AI and other large-scale data centres is factored into the planning process of the Government. As per information available with Ministry of Power, electricity demand from data centres is estimated to reach 13.56 GW by 2031–32,” Prasada said. The minister said about 38,231 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been onboarded through 14 empanelled service providers and data centres under the AI compute capacity framework to support AI development.

“These are being provided to startups, researchers, academia and other eligible users at a subsidised average rate of INR 65 per hour. This is about one-third of the global average cost. These data centres are located across the country such as Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Noida and Jamnagar,” Prasada said.

Reliance Digital launches campaign for Apple devices

Reliance Digital, India’s leading consumer electronics retailer, has announced the launch of Apple’s latest range of devices across its nationwide store network and online platform, inviting customers to be among the first to experience the brand’s newest innovations through its ‘Take The First Bite’ campaign. The newly launched iPhone 17e is now available starting at INR 64,900, with EMIs starting at INR 3,606 per month, along with instant cashback of up to INR 3,000 on Axis Bank and ICICI Bank credit cards and additional exchange bonuses on select devices.

Apple’s computing portfolio also sees significant upgrades with the launch of the MacBook Air powered by the next-generation M5 chip, available at an effective starting price of INR 1,12,900 including INR 7,000 instant cashback. Customers can also get exchange bonuses of up to INR 10,000, along with a special Student & Teacher Offer of INR 7,000. The newly introduced MacBook Neo, designed as a powerful entry into the Apple laptop ecosystem, starts at an effective price of INR 65,900, with cashback of up to INR 4,000, exchange bonuses of up to INR 6,000, and a Student-Teacher Offer of INR 4,000.

For professionals and creators, the MacBook Pro continues to deliver Apple’s flagship performance, available at an effective starting price of INR 1,84,900, along with cashback benefits and a Student-Teacher Offer of INR 11,000. Completing the line-up is the new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip, offering enhanced performance and efficiency in a sleek, lightweight design. Through the ‘Take The First Bite’ campaign, Reliance Digital aims to build excitement around Apple’s newest innovations and encourage customers to experience the latest devices first at Reliance Digital stores.

Truecaller rolls out family protection to guard elders

As online scams like digital arrests, impersonation fraud and AI voice cloning evolve into direct threats against the security of Indian households, Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, is shifting the narrative from simple identification to proactive family immunity with the launch of Family Protection in India. This follows its successful rollout in several global markets, including Sweden, Chile, Malaysia and Kenya.

Truecaller’s Family Protection is a sophisticated digital shield, designed to protect the entire household from the rapidly evolving landscape of predatory scams. Every family has a tech-aware individual or CTO (chief technology officer) who manages the digital well-being of their parents, elders and children. Family Protection gives the CTO real-time fraud alerts and a remote call hang-up feature, allowing them to end suspicious calls for any member of the group instantly. It also includes shared block lists, customizable security levels and a dashboard to monitor device safety settings, ensuring seamless protection across both Android and iOS devices. Importantly, Family Protection is free to use, allowing people to begin safeguarding their family members immediately. “Identifying who is calling is a 2010 solution. In 2026, the question is if the call is safe to answer,” said Rishit Jhunjhunwala, CEO, Truecaller. “With scams becoming more personalized and emotionally manipulative, we need a collective defense. By launching Family Protection in India, we are giving the most tech-savvy member of the household the tools to become the digital guardian for their loved ones, ensuring that the entire family is covered by the same high standards of security that our users enjoy.” While Family Protection is free, if the CTO/admin opts for the Premium Family Plan subscription, they gain access to a broader suite of advanced safety features designed to deliver comprehensive protection for every member of the group.