Abhishek Vij
Digitalizing India aspires to attain a leading position in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics. The country aims to extensively utilize AI tools and leverage the benefits of robotics across various sectors—ranging from its education system to its investment schemes. By bolstering its digital capabilities, the nation seeks to transform its economy into a paperless one.
Since last year, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been utilizing the power of AI to present a paperless Union Budget. However, one must not turn a blind eye to a fundamental reality: if a nation wishes to become truly digital—and effectively harness the potential of AI and robotics—it must first possess an adequate and reliable energy supply.
This energy is derived from various sources; foremost among them is electricity. Primarily, this electrical energy is generated through hydropower, followed by solar power and thermal power derived from coal. Crude oil and gas supplies also constitute a robust foundation for the country’s energy infrastructure. When assessed against this criterion, can India truly claim to possess the boundless energy capacity required to become a digital powerhouse—or to secure the number one spot in AI and robotics capabilities?
The current reality is that while claims are made regarding the enhancement of internet and cyber capabilities, actual power capacity fails to grow due to a persistent energy deficit; conversely, crimes related to the cyber domain have certainly surged. Indeed, the situation has reached a point where we are fast approaching the dubious distinction of becoming number one in the realm of cybercrime. To assess this energy deficit and the systemic flaws that have emerged within the cyber sector, a parliamentary committee was constituted with the mandate to identify solutions to these pressing issues.
The report submitted by this parliamentary committee has now been released. It asserts that if the integration of AI within the power sector is to be advanced, the scope for installing “smart meters” must be significantly expanded to ensure that the entire system operates with complete transparency. A parliamentary committee observes that the pace of work regarding the installation of smart meters across the country is moving very slowly.
The government must first announce a time-bound plan to complete this process; only then can it aspire to attain supremacy in digital and cyber capabilities. According to the report, this sluggish pace is not limited to this specific scheme alone, but is evident in numerous other ongoing projects across the country as well. Work is not being completed in a time-bound manner, nor is it being concluded within the stipulated deadlines.
Consequently, due to the failure to adhere to timelines, the costs of these projects often double or even quadruple. The parliamentary committee’s report states that a target was set to install 250 million (25 crore) smart meters nationwide by March 2025; however, as of February 2026, only 58.3 million (5.83 crore) smart meters have actually been installed. Given the current pace at which this initiative is being executed, it appears that achieving this target would remain a challenge even by 2028.
The meters have yet to be fully installed, yet in areas where energy infrastructure has already been expanded, consumers are already raising complaints regarding discrepancies in billing, data inaccuracies, and breaches of data privacy.