Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organized the World AudioVisual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 to establish India as a global content creation hub. The summit, held in 2025, facilitated connections between Indian creators and global opportunities, showcasing India's creative capabilities and cultural diversity. Initiatives like the Create in India Challenge and WAVEX are ongoing national-level programs open to participants from all regions.
Key Points / Main Content:
WAVES 2025 Objectives and Participation:
* Aligned with the Prime Minister's vision to make India a global content creation hub.
* Brought together creators, policymakers, industry leaders, media platforms, and technology pioneers.
* Facilitated connections for Indian creators with technologies, investors, producers, and buyers.
* Featured over 140 sessions, including plenaries, masterclasses, and breakout sessions.
* Attracted over 1 lakh participants from over 100 countries.
Key Initiatives and Outcomes:
* Global Media Dialogue: Promoted media for peace and digital inclusion; the WAVES Declaration was adopted.
* WaveX: A platform for start-up innovation in the Media and Entertainment (ME) sector, featuring live pitching to investors.
* WAVES Bazaar: Facilitated over 3,000 B2B meetings as a marketplace for scripts, music, comics, and AV rights.
* MoUs worth Rs 8 thousand crore were signed for investments in film cities, creative tech education and live entertainment infrastructure.
* Create in India Challenge (CIC): A nationwide creative talent hunt across 34 categories, attracting over 1 lakh registrations.
* Creatosphere: Masterclasses, competitions, and live showcases for India's next-generation creative talent.
* Bharat Pavilion: Showcased India's storytelling legacy and cultural leadership globally.
* 8th National Community Radio Conference: Recognized innovation and inclusivity with National Community Radio Awards for 12 stations.
National-Level Initiatives:
* The Government strengthens talent and infrastructure through initiatives like Create in India Challenge, WAVEX, and Waves Bazaar.
* These initiatives are open to participants from all regions.
Impact Analysis
Creators:
* Impact: Opportunity to connect with investors, producers, and buyers, showcase talent, and participate in national-level challenges.
* Action Required: Participate in initiatives like WaveX and the Create in India Challenge.
Startups in the Media and Entertainment Sector:
* Impact: Platform to pitch ideas to investors and gain exposure through WaveX.
* Action Required: Prepare pitches and participate in the WaveX event.
Media and Entertainment Industry Leaders:
* Impact: Opportunity to engage in global media dialogue and influence the direction of the sector.
* Action Required: Engage in discussions and contribute to initiatives like the WAVES Declaration.
Regional Creative Enterprises (including Madhya Pradesh and Chhindwara):
* Impact: Access to national-level initiatives like Create in India Challenge, WAVEX, and Waves Bazaar.
* Action Required: Participate in national-level initiatives and leverage platforms for exposure and business opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Chhindwara: A district in Madhya Pradesh, India.
World AudioVisual and Entertainment Summit, 2025: A summit organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to promote India as a global hub for content creation.
Ministry of Information Broadcasting: The Indian government ministry responsible for information and broadcasting.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in central India.
WAVES Declaration: A declaration adopted at the World AudioVisual and Entertainment Summit, 2025 to promote media for peace and digital inclusion.
WaveX: A platform for startup innovation in the Media and Entertainment sector, featuring a live pitching event for startups to present ideas to investors, within the World AudioVisual and Entertainment Summit, 2025.
Create in India Challenge: A nationwide talent hunt across 34 creative categories like animation, gaming, ARVR and music to discover next-generation creative talent.
National Community Radio Awards: Awards given to community radio stations for innovation and inclusivity in community broadcasting at the 8th National Community Radio Conference.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2801
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
WAVES 2025
2801: Shri Dileshwar Kamait:
Shri Bunty Vivek Sahu:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
a) the main objectives of organising the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment
Summit, 2025;
b) the expected impact of the summit on Media and entertainment sector of the country
and the manner in which Ministry is observing it;
c) the initiatives taken by the Government to promote business opportunities and to
exhibit creative capabilities and cultural diversity of the country on the international
platform;
d) whether the Government proposes to introduce any regional level scheme to connect
the youth and creative enterprises of Madhya Pradesh including Chhindwara with the
media and entertainment sector; and
e) if so, whether the Government proposes to launch or proposed to be launched any
programme related to filmmaking, skill development or media education in
Chhindwara district and if so, the details thereof?ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (e):
The World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 was organized in line with
the Prime Minister's vision of making India a global hub of content creation. It brought together
creators, policymakers, industry leaders, media platforms and technology pioneers on a single
platform.
WAVES provided a platform for Indian creators to connect with new technologies, investors,
producers and buyers. It saw participation of more than 1 lakh people from over 100 countries.
The event featured more than 140 sessions including 50 plenaries, 35 masterclasses and 55
breakout sessions with participation from global industry leaders.
Salient features of WAVES 2025:
• Global Media Dialogue: Key stakeholders, including government and private sector
representatives, discussed the evolving role of media & entertainment. WAVES
Declaration was adopted to promote media for peace and digital inclusion.
• WaveX: Platform for startup-led innovation in the M&E sector. It included a two-day
live pitching event where startups presented ideas to investors.
• WAVES Bazaar: Enabled over 3 thousand B2B meetings by functioning as a
marketplace for scripts, music, comics and AV rights, creating new revenue streams.
• Economic and Strategic Outcomes: MoUs worth Rs 8 thousand crore were signed for
investments in film cities, creative tech education and live entertainment infrastructure.• Create in India Challenge (CIC): A nationwide next-generation creative talent hunt
across 34 creative categories like animation, gaming, AR/VR and music. It attracted
over 1 lakh registrations from creators from around the world.
• Creatosphere: Masterclasses, competitions and live showcases were hosted to
highlight India's next-gen creative talent.
• Bharat Pavilion: It offered an immersive experience into India's storytelling legacy by
projecting India's soft power and cultural leadership globally.
• 8th National Community Radio Conference: 12 stations received the National
Community Radio Awards for innovation and inclusivity in community broadcasting.
The Government continues to strengthen talent and infrastructure across the country
through national-level initiatives like Create in India Challenge, WAVEX and Waves
Bazaar which are open to participants from all regions.
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