Published: 3 March 2026Business Standard / Communications TodayScience & Technology
BIS Notifies India's First-Ever Standards for Cloud Computing, Data Centres, and Ethical AI Deployment
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BIS notified India's first standards for cloud computing, data centres (PUE, CER, WUE, CUE metrics), and ethical AI on March 4–5, 2026 under BIS Rules 2018 — currently voluntary, derived from ISO/IEC frameworks — as India targets expanding data centre capacity from 1.5 GW to 8–10 GW by 2030.
Around March 4–5, 2026, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notified India's first-ever standards for cloud computing, data centre performance, and ethical AI deployment under BIS Rules 2018. The standards are derived from ISO/IEC international frameworks and currently operate as a voluntary framework, becoming mandatory only if the government issues a Quality Control Order (QCO).
For data centres, the standards introduce key performance metrics: Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), Cooling Efficiency Ratio (CER), Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE), and Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE) — globally recognised benchmarks to drive energy and resource efficiency. India aims to scale its data centre capacity from 1.5 GW in 2025 to 8–10 GW by 2030, with data centres projected to increase their share of national electricity consumption from 0.8% to 3%.
For ethical AI, the standards embed transparency and bias mitigation directly into AI system design and deployment phases, addressing fairness, privacy, human oversight, and accountability. The cloud computing standards establish common definitions and foundational norms for cloud systems used in finance, healthcare, and government services. This notification aligns with India's ambition to become a global leader in responsible digital infrastructure.
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Frequently asked questions
What standards did BIS notify in March 2026, and under which authority?
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) notified India's first-ever standards for cloud computing, data centres, and ethical AI deployment on March 4–5, 2026, under the BIS Rules 2018. The standards are currently voluntary and derived from ISO/IEC international frameworks.
What are PUE, CER, WUE, and CUE metrics used for in data centres?
These four metrics measure data centre efficiency: PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) measures overall energy efficiency; CER (Carbon Efficiency Ratio) measures carbon footprint; WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness) measures water consumption; and CUE (Carbon Usage Effectiveness) measures CO₂ emissions per IT load. Standardising these metrics enables benchmarking and accountability in India's growing data centre sector.
What is BIS and what is its role in India's standards ecosystem?
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) is India's national standards body, established under the BIS Act 2016 under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. It develops and maintains standards for products, services, and systems across sectors, and can make standards mandatory or keep them voluntary.
What is India's data centre capacity target by 2030?
India aims to expand its data centre capacity from the current 1.5 GW to 8–10 GW by 2030. This growth is driven by increased cloud adoption, AI workloads, digital government services, and growing demand from hyperscalers setting up in India.
What is the MANAV framework and how does it connect to BIS's ethical AI standards?
MANAV (Multidimensional AI Norms and Values) is India's ethical AI governance framework, launched at the AI Impact Summit 2026. The BIS ethical AI standards align with MANAV's principles to ensure AI deployments in India are accountable, fair, transparent, and safe.
