Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a series of initiatives in the Union Budget 2026-27 aimed at strengthening India’s Orange Economy and expanding creative education, with a special focus on youth and women.
Presenting the Budget in Parliament, FM Sitharaman highlighted the rapid growth of India’s animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) sector, noting that it is projected to require nearly two million skilled professionals by 2030. To support this demand, the government will extend assistance to 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.
The proposed labs are expected to widen access to creative education, equip students with industry-relevant skills and open up new career pathways in animation, gaming, visual effects and digital storytelling.
The Finance Minister said the initiative forms part of a broader effort to build a future-ready workforce and position India as a global hub for creative industries. By embedding AVGC training at the school and college level, the government aims to nurture talent early and strengthen the domestic creative economy.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the media at Rail Bhawan, described the Budget as “duty-driven” and inspired by Yuva Shakti and Nari Shakti. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed India’s creative economy on the global stage through initiatives such as WAVES.
Vaishnaw said the IICT Mumbai, envisioned on the lines of IITs and IIMs, will serve as a national anchor for creative education and connect with 15,000 schools and 500 colleges through Creator Labs, a move he said could generate nearly 20 lakh new employment opportunities in the sector.
The Economic Survey has also underlined the growing importance of India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector as a key pillar of the services economy. The sector spans audio-visual production, broadcasting, digital content, animation, gaming, advertising and live entertainment.
Over the past decade, the M&E industry has witnessed a strong shift towards digital and platform-based delivery, reshaping revenue models, employment patterns and value chains. Valued at around ₹2.5 trillion in 2024, the sector’s growth has been driven by rising incomes, deeper internet penetration, the expansion of OTT platforms and AI-led innovation.
The Orange Economy refers to economic activities driven by creativity, culture and intellectual property, where value is derived primarily from ideas, artistic expression, knowledge and cultural content rather than physical goods. The government’s latest Budget proposals seek to harness this potential to create jobs, promote innovation and strengthen India’s global footprint in creative industries.
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