New Delhi: The Centre has unveiled an ambitious plan to scale up India’s creative economy, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing targeted support for the animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) sector in the Union Budget 2026-27.
As part of the initiative, the government will back the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country, a move aimed at widening access to creative education and skill development, according to a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau.
Highlighting the fast-expanding scope of the sector, Sitharaman said India’s AVGC industry is projected to require nearly 2 million professionals by 2030, underlining the need for a strong talent pipeline. The proposed labs are expected to open up new career pathways for students and align education with industry demand.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the budget as “duty-driven” and focused on Yuva Shakti and Nari Shakti, adding that the creative economy has been placed on the global stage through initiatives like WAVES. He said IICT, envisioned on the lines of IITs and IIMs, will anchor the rollout of these creator labs and could help generate around 20 lakh jobs in the process.
The push comes against the backdrop of a rapidly digitising media and entertainment (M&E) sector, which the Economic Survey has flagged as a key pillar of India’s services economy. The sector, spanning broadcasting, digital content, gaming, advertising and live entertainment, was estimated at about ₹2.5 trillion in 2024, driven by rising internet penetration, OTT expansion and AI-led innovation.
The “Orange Economy”, which centres on creativity, culture and intellectual property, is increasingly being seen by policymakers as a high-growth, employment-intensive segment—one where value is driven more by ideas and content than by physical goods. With the latest budgetary push, the government is betting that India’s creative industries can become a stronger engine of jobs and exports in the years ahead.