Yogesh Sharma / Gurugram: When we think about IT hubs in India, cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Delhi NCR, and Chennai come to mind. These cities handle most of India’s IT exports. In fact, India contributes 18% of the world’s total IT exports and is expected to reach a market size of $210 billion by FY25.But here’s the catch: 60% of these exports come from a few cities, while people from states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh often migrate to these hubs for jobs.Now, things are changing. These states, once labeled as BIMARU states due to poor economic conditions, are witnessing rapid growth.
What are BIMARU States?
The term BIMARU was introduced by Ashish Bose in the 1980s. It refers to states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh that lagged in development, HDI, and food security. Later, states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha were also included.Today, these states are no longer “sick.” Their GDP growth rates are among the highest in India. Infrastructure is improving rapidly, from Jaipur Metro to India’s largest airport in Jewar and the RRTS rail system in Uttar Pradesh.
IT Growth in BIMARU States
Cities like Noida, Jaipur, Indore, Lucknow, and Patna are now emerging as IT hubs. Governments in these states are offering tax incentives, affordable office spaces, and investments to attract IT companies.
Rajasthan
Jaipur and Kota are leading IT destinations.
Companies like Genpact, Infosys, and Wipro are already operational here.
The government plans to develop a new IT city near Gurgaon, providing land and facilities.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and RRTS have improved connectivity, making Jaipur an affordable alternative to Delhi NCR.
Uttar Pradesh
Cities like Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj are the focus.
The government is investing ₹33,500 crore to boost IT infrastructure.
Lucknow IT City is already operational, developed with HCL Technologies.
Noida hosts offices of TCS, Google, Microsoft, and Adobe, and its proximity to Delhi gives it an advantage.
Madhya Pradesh
Indore is leading the IT boom with over 1,100 IT companies and 5 SEZs.
The government is developing two new IT parks in Indore by 2025.
Indore’s clean environment and skilled workforce from IIT and IIM make it a top choice.
Bihar
Bihar’s new IT Policy 2024 offers:
30% investment subsidy50% rent subsidy
₹5,000 per employee/month for IT companies.
Companies like Airtel are already investing, and Patna is slowly becoming an IT hub.
Odisha
Bhubaneswar is called the IT hub of Eastern India, hosting Infosys, TCS, and Wipro.
The state is developing major projects like Info Valley over 660 acres to attract IT firms.
Why Companies Are Moving to These States
1. Lower Costs: Office rents and salaries are cheaper compared to Bangalore or Delhi.
2. Skilled Workforce: These states produce thousands of engineers and IT graduates every year.
3. Government Support: Tax benefits, subsidies, and better infrastructure attract companies.
4. Connectivity: Improved expressways, airports, and rail systems make these states accessible.
Conclusion
BIMARU states are no longer behind. With better infrastructure, policies, and investments, they are becoming the next big IT hubs of India. This shift will not only create jobs locally but also reduce migration to metro cities. The future of India’s IT growth might just lie in these rising states!