Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened India's second major RBI data centre in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, a facility designed to shield the nation's payment and settlement systems from cyber attacks.
The ₹169-crore facility in Odisha reflects a strategic shift toward securing India's financial infrastructure against what Modi framed as a new form of warfare—economic attacks through cyber means. It marks the second such RBI centre after Navi Mumbai and signals New Delhi's confidence in eastern India's role in the country's digital transformation.
Modi inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India's data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute at Info Valley-II in Jatni on Sunday. The facility covers 18.55 acres.
The event was attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, Odisha Governor Brajmohan Ram and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The Cybersecurity Training Institute will provide facilities for training, research and development across the cybersecurity and enterprise-technology sectors.
Why Odisha was chosen
An official said the site was selected because of its geographical stability. The location is positioned at a distance from seismically active zones and high-risk international border areas, which limits exposure to natural disasters and geopolitical vulnerabilities.
Wars are being fought not only conventionally but also by attacking economies; need to protect India's banking system from cyber terrorists
Officials said the facilities were designed to meet the bank's computing requirements and give the bank and the wider financial sector a secure, resilient, scalable and future-ready computing ecosystem.
The foundation stone was laid by then RBI governor Shaktikanta Das on 22 March 2023.
Eastern India as growth engine
These new RBI facilities also reflect a new priority for India. Eastern India is emerging as a strong growth engine for Viksit Bharat. Since the formation of the double-engine government in Odisha, development has gained new momentum.
Modi has visited Odisha nine times since the BJP government formed in the state in 2024.
Another new chapter will be added to Odisha's journey of development. The visit of the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji to Odisha and the inauguration of RBI's state-of-the-art Data Centre will not only strengthen the state's digital infrastructure but also give new momentum to the security of the country's financial data and the growth of the digital economy.
Majhi said the Jatni data centre will be the second of its kind after the one in Navi Mumbai.
The RBI Data Centre's success will be measured not just by its inauguration, but by its long-term impact on digital infrastructure, financial data security, and public benefit.
Security arrangements
Around 2,100 police personnel were deployed for the visit. Traffic restrictions were in effect between 5:40 pm and 6:40 pm across the city on the route connecting the RBI data centre and the airport.
What we know
- The data centre will host mission-critical payment and settlement systems and other flagship initiatives.
- The site covers 18.55 acres at Info Valley-II in Jatni and was chosen for geographical stability, distance from seismic zones and international borders.
Still unclear
- Operational start date for the data centre and training institute has not been disclosed.
- Breakdown of the ₹169-crore cost between the data centre and the Cybersecurity Training Institute has not been provided.
- Specific payment systems and data volume to be hosted at the Jatni facility have not been detailed.
