The Architect of the Transformation
Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao
Minister for Information Technology, Industries, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Government of Telangana
When KCR became Chief Minister of Telangana, he handed the IT portfolio to his son KTR with a clear mandate: make Hyderabad the technology capital of India. What followed was one of the most remarkable economic transformations in the history of any Indian city. KTR personally met with the CEOs of Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, Salesforce and dozens of other global companies. He attended World Economic Forum at Davos, pitched Hyderabad at conferences across the world, and flew to Silicon Valley to bring companies back. He launched T-Hub, T-Works, WE-Hub and the ICT Policy. He built IT Towers in Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam so that the technology revolution was not confined to Hyderabad's western corridor. He oversaw the SRDP flyovers that freed Hyderabad's traffic, the Metro Rail that moved its people, and the infrastructure investments that made the city liveable for the millions who came to work in its new economy. Every marquee brand that chose Hyderabad between 2014 and 2023 chose it because KTR made the call, followed through on the promise and delivered.
The political stability and policy consistency of the BRS government created conditions that investors in the technology sector had learned to prize above all else. Every year between 2014 and 2022, Telangana's IT sector grew faster than India's national IT sector growth rate. The government's ICT Policy of 2016, followed by the ICT Policy 2021-2026, the Electronics Policy, the IMAGE Policy, the Data Centres Policy, the AI Policy and the IoT Policy, created a comprehensive regulatory environment that told technology companies exactly what to expect. They came in numbers that surprised even optimistic projections.
44%
Of all tech jobs created in India were created in Telangana in 2023
Nearly one in every two IT jobs created in India in 2023 was in Telangana. IT exports grew from Rs.57,258 crore to Rs.1,83,569 crore in eight years. Employment grew from 3,23,396 to 7,78,121. In nine years, total IT and ITeS employment opportunities generated stood at 9,05,715. Hyderabad surpassed Bengaluru in IT real estate consumption for two consecutive quarters, the first city to do so in decades.
IT Exports and Employment, Year by Year
| Year | IT Exports (Rs. Crore) | Employment | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 57,258 | 3,23,396 | Base year |
| 2014-15 | 66,276 | 3,71,774 | 15.74% |
| 2015-16 | 75,070 | 4,07,385 | 13.26% |
| 2016-17 | 85,470 | 4,31,891 | 13.85% |
| 2017-18 | 93,442 | 4,75,308 | 9.32% |
| 2018-19 | 1,09,219 | 5,43,033 | 16.89% |
| 2019-20 | 1,28,807 | 5,82,126 | 17.93% |
| 2020-21 | 1,45,522 | 6,28,615 | 12.98% |
| 2021-22 | 1,83,569 | 7,78,121 | 26.14% |
| Total growth, 8 years | +220% | +141% |
Rs.1,83,569 Cr
IT exports in 2021-22, up from Rs.57,258 crore in 2013-14, a 220% increase in eight years
Rs.3,31,000 Cr
Total investment attracted from IT and industrial sectors combined in nine years, equivalent to USD 40 billion
22,36,000
Total employment opportunities created from IT and industrial investment in nine years
T-Hub: The World's Largest Startup Incubator
3.5 Lakh Sqft
T-Hub Phase 2, world's largest startup incubation centre
Inaugurated by CM KCR on 28 June 2022 at Knowledge City, Rayadurgam. Built at Rs.400 crore on 3 acres. Designed to accommodate 4,000 startups simultaneously. T-Hub has nurtured over 2,000 startups across 50 sectors. Cohort startups have raised $1.19 billion. Three unicorns have emerged from T-Hub. 10 lakh jobs created. Participants from 42+ countries.
| T-Hub Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| T-Hub Phase 1 launched | 5 November 2015 at IIIT Campus, Gachibowli. 70,000 sqft. Inaugurated by Ratan Tata, Governor Narasimhan and Minister KTR. |
| T-Hub Phase 2 launched | 28 June 2022 at Knowledge City, Rayadurgam. 3.5 lakh sqft. Rs.400 crore cost. |
| Total startups supported | Over 2,000 startups across 50 sectors including Health, Electric Vehicles, Blockchain, AgriTech, FinTech, EducationTech |
| Funding raised by cohort startups | Over $1.19 billion (Rs.approximately 9,800 crore) |
| Unicorns from T-Hub | 3 unicorns, with 2 having direct T-Hub relationship |
| Jobs created | 10 lakh jobs |
| Countries represented | 42+ countries with startups |
| Corporate partners | 418 corporate companies visited, 65 industries working with startups |
| VC investment in Hyderabad, 2014-20 | USD 4.9 billion from venture capitalists |
| T-Works prototyping centre | 78,000 sqft at Rayadurgam, Rs.350 crore. Electronics, hardware, machining, laser cutting, PCB fabrication. Free of charge for innovators. |
| WE-Hub, women entrepreneurs | Launched 8 March 2018. Dedicated state incubator for women entrepreneurs. T-Fund venture capital established. |
TS-iPass: Industry at the Speed of a Handshake
The Telangana State Industrial Project Approval and Self Certification System, TS-iPass, was designed on a single principle: that an entrepreneur who self-certified compliance should receive automatic clearance within set time limits, with penalties for officers who failed to deliver. The system was appreciated across the country and treated as the national benchmark for Ease of Doing Business. Telangana ranked first in Ease of Doing Business in 2016 with a score of 98.78 percent, second in 2017 and third in 2018-19.
| Year | Units Approved | Investment (Rs. Crore) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 174 | 1,806 | 5,051 |
| 2015-16 | 1,530 | 28,964 | 94,266 |
| 2016-17 | 1,704 | 34,231 | 98,648 |
| 2017-18 | 2,800 | 58,258 | 2,74,928 |
| 2018-19 | 2,794 | 34,137 | 4,12,384 |
| 2019-20 | 3,032 | 40,506 | 3,15,522 |
| 2020-21 | 3,422 | 16,092 | 1,63,119 |
| 2021-22 | 4,091 | 18,893 | 1,01,023 |
| 2022-23 | 3,184 | 26,782 | 1,02,049 |
| Total (up to May 2023) | 23,065 | 2,61,732 | 15,74,798 |
Of the 23,065 units that obtained approvals, 18,587 units had commenced operations by May 2023, an 81 percent commencement rate. These operational units had invested Rs.1,54,690 crore and employed 9,13,386 persons. Industrial sector growth in Telangana stood at 10.1 percent in 2023-24.
Government Jobs: 2,24,142 and 95% for Locals
2,24,142
Government jobs created by the BRS government, unprecedented in any Indian state
The BRS government filled 2,24,142 government posts, with 95% local reservation, the first state in India to implement this level of reservation. The Presidential Order 2018 amended Article 371-D of the Constitution to establish 7 zones and 2 multi-zones across 33 districts, ensuring that local candidates from every region got their rightful share of government employment.
Department-wise Government Recruitment
| Department | Recruitments |
|---|---|
| Electricity | 52,324 |
| Home (Police) | 46,850 |
| Panchayati Raj | 10,763 |
| Secondary Education | 9,143 |
| Health and Medical | 8,132 |
| Agriculture | 5,303 |
| Transport | 5,327 |
| Revenue | 3,543 |
| Minority Welfare | 3,745 |
| BC Welfare | 2,552 |
| Municipal | 1,957 |
| Veterinary, Dairy, Fishery | 1,135 |
| Irrigation | 895 |
| ST Welfare | 1,537 |
| Forest and Environment | 2,152 |
| GAD | 219 |
| Planning | 474 |
| Women and Child Welfare | 147 |
| Finance | 28 |
| Industries | 20 |
| Labour | 55 |
| Law | 12 |
| SC Welfare | 377 |
| Total Direct Recruitments | 1,60,083 |
Administrative Reforms: Governance at the Doorstep
| Reform | Before 2014 | After 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Districts | 10 | 33 |
| Revenue Divisions | 42 | 75 |
| Gram Panchayats | 8,684 | 12,751 |
| Mandal Praja Parishads | 438 | 539 |
| Zilla Parishads | 9 | 32 |
| Local reservation in government jobs | 60 to 80% | 95%, first state in India |
| Dharani portal | Not available | Launched October 2020. Integrated registration and instant mutation. 13.32 lakh mutations completed. Zero corruption in land registration. |
| TS-bPASS | Not available | Launched November 2020. 2,04,731 applications received, 1,39,604 approved. Single window for all building permissions. |
| T-Fiber | Not available | Optic fiber internet to 33 districts, 593 mandals, 12,751 Gram Panchayats and 65,000 government institutions. Won KCCI Business Excellence Award 2022. |
Today, the TOP 5 globally valued technology companies, Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook, have their largest presence in Hyderabad outside of their Headquarters. And four of them have done this after the formation of the Telangana state. For the first time in the history of IT evolution in India, Hyderabad crossed Bengaluru for two quarters in IT real estate space consumption.
Government of Telangana, IT DepartmentThe Knowledge Economy, Key Achievements
- IT exports grew from Rs.57,258 crore to Rs.1,83,569 crore in eight years, a 220% increase. IT employment grew from 3,23,396 to 7,78,121. Total IT and ITeS employment in nine years: 9,05,715.
- Telangana contributed 44% of all tech jobs created in India in 2023. Nearly 1 in 2 IT jobs in India that year was in Telangana.
- The world's five largest technology companies, Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook, all chose Hyderabad for their largest presence outside their headquarters.
- Hyderabad surpassed Bengaluru in IT real estate consumption for two consecutive quarters, ranked No. 1 in JLL's city momentum index, the first city to displace Bengaluru in decades.
- T-Hub is the world's largest startup incubation centre at 3.5 lakh sqft. Over 2,000 startups supported across 50 sectors. $1.19 billion raised. 3 unicorns. 10 lakh jobs. 42+ countries.
- TS-iPass: 23,065 units approved, Rs.2,61,732 crore investment, 15,74,798 employment. Ranked 1st in Ease of Doing Business in 2016. 81% commencement rate.
- 2,24,142 government jobs created, unprecedented in any Indian state. 95% local reservation, the first state in India. Presidential Order 2018 amended Article 371-D of the Constitution.
- 33 districts from 10. 12,751 Gram Panchayats from 8,684. Dharani portal eliminated corruption in land registration. T-Fiber connected every Gram Panchayat to high-speed internet.