Mumbai, Sep 16 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, gave the green light to the state’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) Policy 2025. This initiative aims to secure investments of Rs 50,000 crore over the next 25 years and generate 2 lakh jobs in high-tech sectors.

The state government views this policy as a significant move towards establishing Mumbai as the epicenter of the entertainment and tourism industries. It has been granted industry and infrastructure status, reflecting its long-term vision that stretches to the year 2050.

A financial outlay of Rs 3,268 crore has been sanctioned for the execution of this policy, which includes Rs 308 crore allocated for the initial five years (2025-30) and an anticipated Rs 2,960 crore for the subsequent two decades (2031-50).

An extra allocation of Rs 100 crore was also approved for the fiscal year 2025-26. The policy proposes the establishment of a Rs 200 crore WAVES participation fund and a Rs 300 crore fund aimed at supporting local startups within this sector.

According to the policy, dedicated AVGC-XR Parks will be developed as specialized industrial hubs, featuring state-of-the-art infrastructure. These parks will provide all necessary business amenities and incentives for startups, MSMEs, and large enterprises operating in this arena. Locations for these parks include Film City (Mumbai), Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, Satara, and Nagpur.

These parks will be outfitted with world-class facilities such as high-speed digital connectivity, motion capture studios, post-production labs, high-performance rendering farms, sound recording facilities, and virtual production studios. The infrastructure will incorporate AI-based animation, real-time rendering, immersive experiences, and applications related to the metaverse to cater to industry demands.

Approximately 60 percent of the Integrated Industrial Area (IIA), Information Technology Park, and other facility centers will be dedicated to these activities, while the remaining 40 percent will accommodate ancillary businesses, including residential, institutional, and recreational spaces.

Moreover, the additional Floor Area Index (FSI) from the previous IT & ITES (Maharashtra Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services) Policy 2023 will be made available for these activities, further enhancing the infrastructure ecosystem for this sector.

Elements such as AVGC-XR Park, regional clusters, testing and certification facilities, centers of excellence, virtual production studios, and design studios will be established. The AVGC-XR initiative can be launched in any designated zone.

Additionally, these initiatives will be permitted to operate under a 24/7 policy, adhering to safety standards set by the Labor Department and other relevant authorities. A dedicated section for these initiatives will be available on the Maharashtra Information Technology Interface (MAHITI) portal.

Furthermore, the Maitri portal (MAITRI) will serve as a comprehensive hub. To ensure the availability of skilled manpower for this industry, a Maharashtra AVGC-XR Skill Advisory Committee is being formed, comprising industry experts from academia and various industry representatives.

The government emphasized that this policy is crucial as the AVGC-XR sector is a vital component of India’s Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry. This sector is witnessing rapid growth in India, with the Media and Entertainment market projected to surge from $27 billion to over $100 billion by 2030, potentially creating more than 3 million direct jobs and over 5.15 million indirect jobs. This sector was also highlighted in the vision document crafted by the Maharashtra Economic Advisory Committee to propel Maharashtra towards a $1 trillion economy. In line with this vision, the Central Government recently hosted an international conference titled WAVES 2025 in Mumbai.

The government noted that Maharashtra is home to over 295 studios specializing in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR), which accounts for nearly 30 percent of all studios in India. Additionally, at least 20 institutions in Mumbai and Pune offer educational programs in animation, visual effects, and gaming.

“There is immense potential for innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property development in this sector. Maharashtra stands at a unique crossroads to become a global destination for AVGC-XR,” the government stated.