Catalyst of Change: Sridhar Babu and Telangana’s Tech Renaissance
When Telangana was carved out as India’s youngest state in 2014, few imagined it would rise so quickly to become a global name in technology. Hyderabad became a magnet for IT giants, bustling with cyber towers and sprawling campuses of Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. But as the world moved beyond software services into chips, AI, robotics, and deep-tech manufacturing, Telangana faced a question: could it lead the next era of technology? Stepping into this challenge is Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Telangana’s Minister for IT, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs, a leader who has quietly become the architect of a new vision.
Sridhar Babu is not the usual politician who speaks in soundbites. A trained lawyer with degrees from Delhi University and the University of Hyderabad, he brings a rare mix of legal sharpness and political experience. Having served five terms as MLA from Manthani, he is deeply rooted in people’s issues, but his thinking is distinctly futuristic. “As a lawyer, I understand the cost of unclear rules. In technology, clarity is everything. We are working to simplify, not complicate, the path for investors,” he often reminds audiences. This clarity is what investors crave, and what Telangana has begun to offer under his stewardship.
In September 2025, a defining moment arrived. T-CHIP—the Technology Chip Innovation Program—submitted a detailed roadmap to Sridhar Babu, outlining how Telangana could establish itself as India’s semiconductor nerve center. After engaging with global giants like TSMC, ARM, and Synopsys, the delegation, led by Sundeep Kumar Makthala, returned with strategies on design, manufacturing, secure chip architectures, and workforce development. The vision was bold: train 1,000 professors and 10,000 students by 2030, build global-standard design hubs, and attract fabs that could put Telangana on the semiconductor world map. Accepting the report, Sridhar Babu was clear about the opportunity. “The roadmap submitted to us will help Telangana play a pioneering role in India’s semiconductor ecosystem. Our focus will be on building talent, attracting investment, and creating applications that touch everyday life.”
Yet his dream extends beyond Hyderabad’s glass towers. Sridhar Babu speaks often of Manthani, his home constituency, and other districts far from the IT corridor. He insists that digital growth cannot be a Hyderabad-only story. “Technology cannot remain limited to Hyderabad alone. We want Manthani, Warangal, Karimnagar, and every district to be part of Telangana’s digital future,” he says. This commitment to inclusivity is turning into policy: rural IT parks, digital training centers, and district-level startup programs are slowly emerging, signaling a broader spread of opportunities.
The stakes are high. Semiconductor fabs demand massive investment, stable power, water, and skilled manpower. Competing states like Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are also in the race. But Sridhar Babu is betting on Telangana’s agility—its ability to cut red tape, create talent pipelines, and deliver infrastructure on time. “We want to ensure Telangana becomes the destination of choice for next-gen industries, where clearances are quick, infrastructure is ready, and innovation is encouraged,” he affirms with conviction.
For Telangana, this is more than just a race for factories. It is about shaping an identity. If Hyderabad once symbolized the rise of India’s IT services, Telangana under Sridhar Babu now seeks to symbolize India’s rise in hardware—chips, electronics, and futuristic technologies that power AI and EVs. His words carry both urgency and vision: “Every policy we draft, every clearance we fast-track, is about preparing Telangana for a future where technology isn’t imported but invented and manufactured here.”
The story of Telangana’s IT development is still unfolding. But with the semiconductor roadmap in hand, and a minister determined to turn policy into practice, the state is positioning itself not just as a participant but as a leader in the global technology order. Sridhar Babu is not merely governing; he is writing the next chapter of Telangana’s tech renaissance—one where the smallest chip could shape the state’s largest dream.
