**Summary:**
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4505 on August 20, 2025, regarding the proposed development of a Data City in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) has expressed its intention to establish this Data City, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced AI research centers, and digital skilling programs. The initiative aims to empower local talent. The Union Government is actively supporting this initiative, and various meetings have been conducted between the Government of India and GoAP to discuss the legal provisions required to support the Data City project. Discussions included potential amendments to the Copyright Act, specifically Section 52, to provide text and data mining exemptions to facilitate AI development, given the current Act's lack of specific provisions for these activities. Google is considered to be one of the anchor investors.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for IT policy, strategy and development of the electronics industry.
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: A city in Andhra Pradesh, India, where the proposed Data City is planned.
Government of Andhra Pradesh: The state government of Andhra Pradesh, planning to develop a Data City in Visakhapatnam.
Data City: A proposed project in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Advanced AI Research Centres and digital skilling programs.
Google: Mentioned as a potential anchor investor for the Data City project in Visakhapatnam.
Copyright Act: An act that the Government of Andhra Pradesh proposed to amend, specifically regarding text and data mining for AI development.
Section 52 of the Copyright Act: Specific section of the Copyright Act that the State Government of Andhra Pradesh suggested amending to provide text and data mining exemptions for AI development.
Artificial Intelligence: A key technology focus of the Data City project, with plans for AI and advanced AI research centers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4505
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20 .08.2025
DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CITY IN VISAKHAPATNAM
4505. DR. C M RAMESH:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether it has come to the notice of the Union Government that Government of Andhra Pradesh
(GoAP) is planning to develop a Data City in Visakhapatnam with Google as one of its anchor
investors;
(b) if so, whether GoAP also sought help from the Union Government in this regard;
(c) if so, whether the State Government of Andhra Pradesh proposed to amend the Copyright Act
which lacks specific provisions for text-and-data-mining making it difficult to train AI models on
publicly available database;
(d) if so, whether it is also true that State Government of Andhra Pradesh suggested for amending
Section 52 of the Copyright Act to provide text-and-data-mining exemptions for AI development;
and
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (e): Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) has informed its intent for establishment of
Data City in Visakhapatnam for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Advanced AI Research Centres, digital
skilling programmes etc. to empower local talent.
Govt. of India is actively supporting this initiative. Various meetings have been held on this topic.
Between Govt. of India and Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, the legal provision to support Data City
project are under discussion.
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