For Prelims: Letter of Intent (LoI), Data Centre, UPSIDA, Nodal Body, Capacity, Investment, Location, Employment
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- UPSIDA issued a Letter of Intent to M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited for a 10 MW data centre in Prayagraj.
- The project involves ₹220 crore investment and will create 300 jobs.
- M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited is a Bharti Airtel Group data centre company.
- The data centre will be located in Saraswati Hi-Tech City, Prayagraj.
- The LoI was issued on 5 November 2026 for 4.43 acres of land.
Why in the news?
The Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) has issued a Letter of Intent to M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited (Bharti Airtel Group) for a 10 MW data centre in Prayagraj's Saraswati Hi-Tech City. The project involves ₹220 crore investment and is expected to create about 300 jobs, boosting digital infrastructure in the state.
Summary
- UPSIDA issued a Letter of Intent to M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited for a 10 MW data centre on 4.43 acres in Prayagraj's Saraswati Hi-Tech City.
- The project involves an investment of approximately ₹220 crore and is expected to create 300 direct and indirect jobs.
- This initiative supports Uttar Pradesh's focus on IT, electronics and digital economy infrastructure development.
Highlights
UPSIDA Issues LoI for Data Centre
UPSIDA issued a Letter of Intent to M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited for a 10 MW data centre in Prayagraj's Saraswati Hi-Tech City.
₹220 Crore Investment, 300 Jobs
The project involves ₹220 crore investment and is expected to create 300 direct and indirect jobs.
Boost to Digital Infrastructure
The data centre will strengthen UP's digital economy, data storage and cloud services ecosystem.
Background
Uttar Pradesh has been actively promoting industrial investment through UPSIDA, which develops industrial areas and provides infrastructure. Data centres are critical for digital economy growth, enabling data storage, cloud computing and IT-based services. The state government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has prioritised IT, electronics and digital infrastructure sectors.
Key Analysis and Impact
The 10 MW data centre in Prayagraj will enhance digital infrastructure in the region, supporting enterprises, cloud service providers and institutions. The ₹220 crore investment and 300 jobs will boost the local economy. M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited, part of the Bharti Airtel Group, operates hyperscale and edge data centres across India, bringing expertise to the project. This aligns with UP's goal to become a leading industrial and investment destination.
Way Forward
The LoI is the first step; the company will now proceed with land acquisition and project implementation. Successful execution could attract more IT and data centre investments to Uttar Pradesh, particularly in tier-2 cities like Prayagraj. The project supports India's growing demand for data storage and cloud services driven by digitalisation.
Uttar Pradesh connection
Matters for these Uttar Pradesh exams:UPPSC 7/10UPPSC RO/ARO 7/10
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Letter of Intent (LoI)
- A formal document issued by a government authority or organisation expressing intention to allot land or grant approval for a project, subject to final agreement and conditions.
- Data Centre
- A facility that houses computer systems, servers, storage and networking equipment for storing, processing and managing large amounts of data. Data centres are critical for cloud computing, digital services and IT operations.
- UPSIDA
- Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority is the nodal agency for industrial development in Uttar Pradesh, responsible for developing industrial areas, infrastructure and facilitating investments.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: 10 MW capacity, ₹220 crore investment, 300 jobs, 4.43 acres land
- Legal Point: Letter of Intent (LoI) as a project approval instrument
Don't make this mistake!
Students may confuse UPSIDA with other state development authorities (like UPIDA for infrastructure) or mix up the company Nxtra Data Ltd with other Airtel subsidiaries. The capacity (10 MW) could be swapped with a different figure in options.
Stuck? Get it in one tap
UPSIDA, the agency that promotes industry in Uttar Pradesh, has given a Letter of Intent to M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited (part of Bharti Airtel) to build a data centre in Prayagraj. A data centre is a facility that stores and manages computer data. This one will have 10 MW capacity, cost ₹220 crore and create about 300 jobs. It will help improve digital services in the state.
- UPSIDA issued a Letter of Intent to M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited for a 10 MW data centre in Prayagraj.
- The project involves ₹220 crore investment and will create 300 jobs.
- M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited is a Bharti Airtel Group data centre company.
- The data centre will be located in Saraswati Hi-Tech City, Prayagraj.
- The LoI was issued on 5 November 2026 for 4.43 acres of land.
- Economy: Infrastructure and Investment
- Governance: State Industrial Development Authorities
Related concepts: Letter of Intent (LoI), Data Centre, UPSIDA
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which state government authority issued the Letter of Intent for the Prayagraj data centre project?
Explanation: UPSIDA is the nodal agency for industrial development in Uttar Pradesh. UPIDA is for infrastructure, UPEC is for electronics, and UPIIDC is a different corporation. The news explicitly mentions UPSIDA as the issuing authority.
- Q2Medium
How much land was allocated for the 10 MW data centre project in Prayagraj?
Explanation: UPSIDA issued the LoI for plots number 5 and 7, totalling 4.43 acres of land in Saraswati Hi-Tech City. 2.5 acres, 6.2 acres and 10 acres are incorrect figures.
- Q3Medium
What is the primary objective of establishing a data centre in Prayagraj under this project?
Explanation: The project aims to enhance data storage, cloud services and digital technology activities, supporting the state's digital economy. Tax revenue is a secondary benefit, and housing or training institutes are not part of this project.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which company received the Letter of Intent for the Prayagraj data centre?
Which company received the Letter of Intent for the Prayagraj data centre?: M/s Airtel Nxtra Private Limited, a Bharti Airtel Group data centre company, received the Letter of Intent from UPSIDA.
2. What is the capacity and investment of the proposed Prayagraj data centre?
The data centre will have a capacity of 10 MW and involve an investment of approximately ₹220 crore.
3. Where will the data centre be located in Prayagraj?
The data centre will be set up in Saraswati Hi-Tech City, an industrial area in Prayagraj, on 4.43 acres of land.
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- Original5 November 2026 · Read story
