Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Q6. “India’s AI ambitions are proceeding without integrating resource constraints into planning.” Examine the drivers of data centre expansion. Evaluate the sustainability concerns arising from this trajectory. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question
Growing intersection of AI-led digital expansion and resource scarcity, especially water stress in urban India, has raised concerns about sustainability of infrastructure planning.Key Demand of the question
The question requires examination of whether India’s AI push ignores ecological constraints, along with identifying key drivers of data centre growth and evaluating sustainability challenges arising from it, followed by a forward-looking approach.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly link India’s AI ambitions with rising infrastructure demand and emerging resource constraints like water and energy.Body
- Statement dimension (resource-blind expansion): Show how policy push prioritises growth over ecological integration.
- Drivers of expansion: Highlight factors like digital demand, policy incentives, localisation etc.
- Sustainability concerns: Indicate issues like water stress, energy use, ecological and governance challenges.
- Way forward: Suggest need for regulatory integration, sustainable practices and resource-sensitive planning.
Conclusion
End with need for balancing technological growth with ecological sustainability for long-term resilience.
