Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) signed an MoU with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), to build AI-enabled sovereign cloud platforms in line with India’s data localisation rules.
- Objective: Strengthen digital transformation of public services and reduce reliance on foreign hyperscalers.
Key Highlights
Partnership Focus:
- Collaborative Innovation for Sovereign Cloud Infrastructure
- Indigenous technologies + TCS’s expertise → Secure sovereign cloud.
- Hosting for government applications like e-Sanjeevani (telemedicine platform), Dial 112 (emergency response), and central ministry workloads.
Benefits:
- Enhanced security, compliance, and performance.
- Target sectors: Healthcare, Defence, Smart Cities, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance).
Regulatory Compliance: Ensures strict adherence to India’s data protection and localisation rules.
Driving Self-Reliance & Digital Transformation
- Part of India’s strategy to reduce dependence on foreign hyperscalers (like AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud).
- Supported by OpenStack & indigenous cloud technologies.
- Joint research + public sector engagement → Build sovereign cloud as the default choice for India’s digital ecosystem.
- Nation-building role of TCS:
- Nearly 6 decades of contribution in IT services.
- Supports 7 out of 10 Indians daily through projects like stock exchanges, digital public infrastructure, defence pension, health insurance.
Significance
- Boosts India’s digital sovereignty and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
- Strengthens cybersecurity & resilience against data breaches and foreign control.
- Enhances citizen-centric services by providing secure and faster government digital platforms.
- Establishes India as a global leader in sovereign cloud adoption.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
- Founded: 1968 (part of Tata Group).
- HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Global Standing: One of the world’s largest IT service providers.
- Provides services across consulting, IT solutions, cloud computing, AI, and digital transformation.
C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing)
- Established: 1988.
- Parent Body: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Known for:
- India’s first supercomputer PARAM (1991).
- Leading R&D in High-Performance Computing (HPC), AI, Cybersecurity, IoT, 5G, Blockchain.
- Plays a central role in Digital India and indigenous tech development.
Key Facts
Sovereign Cloud:
- Cloud infrastructure hosted within national borders.
- Subject to local jurisdiction & laws (ensures data sovereignty).
- Critical for government, defence, and strategic sectors.
Data Localisation in India:
- Mandated under IT Act, RBI guidelines, and draft Data Protection Bill (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023).
- Requires certain categories of data (esp. financial & personal) to be stored & processed within India.
Digital India Programme (Launched: 2015) → Transform India into a digitally empowered society & knowledge economy.
MeitY:
- Parent ministry of C-DAC.
- Current Union Minister (as of 2025): Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Other Indigenous Digital Initiatives:
- UIDAI (Aadhaar),
- UPI (Unified Payments Interface),
- India Stack,
- DigiLocker,
- ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce).