**Executive Summary**
The Government of India is accelerating the "orange economy" through the Union Budget 2026-27, which allocates ₹250 Crore to establish Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges. Managed by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), these initiatives aim to address a projected requirement for two million skilled professionals by 2030. The strategy focuses on skill development, startup incubation, and positioning India as a global hub for content creation through the "Create in India" initiative.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Infrastructure and Funding**
* Establishment of AVGC Content Creator Labs (CCLs) in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges nationwide.
* A dedicated budget allocation of ₹250 Crore for the CCL initiative under the 2026-27 Union Budget.
**Institutional Framework**
* IICT Mumbai is designated as the nodal agency for the planning, coordination, and phased rollout of Content Creators’ Labs.
* The National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for AVGC-XR currently offers 18 courses with 136 enrolled students and 15 participants in the "Train-the-Trainer" programme.
* Stakeholder consultations are underway to determine technology stacks and identify beneficiary institutions.
**Strategic Industry Growth**
* The AVGC Promotion Task Force projects the sector will require approximately two million skilled professionals by 2030.
* Growth areas include content production, design, programming, and AVGC-XR related fields.
**Platforms for Engagement and Innovation**
* **WAVES 2025:** An integrated platform for creators and startups to engage with global investors and technology leaders from over 100 countries.
* **WaveX Startup Accelerator:** Provides media-tech startups with incubation, mentorship, investor connectivity, and support for intellectual property protection.
* **Create in India Challenge (CIC):** A national platform that conducted 33 challenges in its first season, attracting over one lakh creators from across the country.
**Impact Analysis**
**Educational Institutions (Schools and Colleges)**
**Impact**
Selected institutions will host Content Creator Labs, integrating AVGC technology into the academic environment.
**Action Required**
Participate in ongoing stakeholder consultations and prepare for the phased rollout of labs as coordinated by IICT.
**Aspiring Creators and Students**
**Impact**
Increased access to specialized AVGC-XR training and opportunities to showcase talent on national and international platforms like WAVES Bazaar.
**Action Required**
Enroll in IICT courses or participate in future seasons of the Create in India Challenge to gain industry exposure.
**Media-Tech Startups**
**Impact**
Benefit from structured incubation, mentorship, and access to global networks and marketplaces to scale innovations.
**Action Required**
Apply for the WaveX Startup Accelerator Programme to access investor connections and intellectual property support.
**Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT)**
**Impact**
Assumes the central role in executing the national rollout of content labs and standardizing AVGC education.
**Action Required**
Complete identification of beneficiary institutions and finalize rollout modalities and technology stacks.
Key Entities Referenced
AVGC Content Creator Labs (CCLs): An initiative allocated ₹250 Crore to establish media-tech labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges to promote the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics sector.
Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai: The designated nodal agency and National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) responsible for the planning, coordination, and rollout of Content Creators’ Labs.
Union Budget 2026-27: The national policy document providing the mandate and financial boost for AVGC sector initiatives and skill development nationwide.
AVGC Promotion Task Force: A government-constituted body that formulated the strategy and recommended policy measures to generate significant employment in the AVGC-XR sector by 2030.
World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES): A global platform and initiative designed to position India as a hub for content creation through programs like WaveX and the Create in India Challenge.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government Accelerates Orange Economy;
Expands Content Creator Labs and Skill
Development Initiatives Nationwide
Budget 2026-27 Boost for AVGC Sector; Content Creator
Labs to be Set Up in 15,000 Schools and 500 Colleges
Posted On: 02 APR 2026 2:13PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has been promoting the media and entertainment sector, including Animation, Visual
Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector. Under the Government’s vision of strengthening the orange
economy and positioning India as a global hub for content creation, many initiatives have been started.
As announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, AVGC Content Creator Labs (CCLs) are proposed to be set
up in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country. This initiative has been allocated ₹
250 Crore.
IICT as NCoE for the AVGC-XR sector is currently operating from the IICT–National Film Development
Corporation (NFDC) campus, Mumbai since July 2025. At present, 18 courses have been introduced with
136 students enrolled and 15 participants completing the Train-the-Trainer programme. The Indian
Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, has been designated as the nodal agency for planning,
coordination and phased rollout of the Content Creators’ Labs. Stakeholder consultations relating to
technology stack, identification of beneficiary institutions and rollout modalities are underway.
The AVGC Promotion Task Force was constituted by the Government in April 2022 to formulate a
comprehensive strategy and recommend policy measures for the promotion and growth of the AVGC- XR
sector. It had submitted its report in December 2022. The report highlights that the sector is projected to
generate significant employment opportunities and may require around two million skilled professionals
by 2030 across AVGC-XR, content production, design, programming and related areas.
The Government organised World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai. It
was in line with the Government’s vision of making India a global hub for content creation under the
“Create in India, Create for the World” initiative. The Summit provided an integrated platform for Indian
creators, producers and startups to engage with global buyers, investors, OTT platforms and technology
leaders from over 100 countries.
The WaveX Startup Accelerator Programme, launched under the World Audio Visual and Entertainment
Summit (WAVES), has supported media-tech startups through structured incubation, mentorship and
access to global networks. The first cohort of startups has been provided opportunities for mentorship
from industry experts, investor connect, support for intellectual property generation and protection. The
programme also facilitates participation in international platforms, industry partnerships and integration
with global marketplaces to enable startups to scale their innovations.The Create in India Challenge (CIC) is being utilised as a national platform to identify, nurture and
showcase creative talent across the Media and Entertainment sector. In Season I of the CIC, 33 challenges
were conducted in collaboration with industry partners and it culminated at the WAVES 2025. The
Summit witnessed participation from over one lakh creators including from Tier-II and Tier-III cities of
the country. Selected creators are being supported through platforms such as WaveX and WAVES Bazaar
to present their content on national and international platforms.
This Information was submitted by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L.
Murugan in a written reply in Lok Sabha in response of questions asked by Smt. Kriti Devi
Debbarman and Shri Eatala Rajender.
****
Mahesh Kumar/ Vivek Vishwash
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