Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan on Friday, 18 September declared that India's creative economy is emerging as the country's next major growth frontier, capable of generating significant employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young Indians. Speaking at the Jindal Policy Conclave in New Delhi, Murugan outlined a sweeping vision for sectors ranging from film and gaming to animation and digital content.

Key Developments

Dr. Murugan highlighted that the animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) sector alone is expected to require nearly 2 million skilled professionals by 2030. He noted that an estimated 57 million Indians are already working in cultural and creative occupations, anchoring India's position as a global creative powerhouse. India's media and entertainment economy currently stands at ₹2.5 trillion, with the sector projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7 per cent, reaching roughly ₹3,067 billion by 2027, according to government data.

Government Initiatives for Creative Skilling

The Centre has announced support for the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies and the establishment of AVGC Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges across the country. These measures are designed to equip youth with the skills required for emerging creative roles. The government has projected the creative ecosystem to scale up to $100 billion by 2030, signalling an ambition to transition India from a content-consuming nation to a global creator and exporter of intellectual property.

Global Context and India's Share

Dr. Murugan contextualised India's creative push within a global framework, noting that the creative economy contributes 3.1 per cent to global GDP and accounts for 6.2 per cent of global employment. Sectors such as film, music, gaming, animation, design, publishing, advertising and digital content are converging to create layered opportunities for both employment and enterprise. This comes amid a broader global recognition of the creative industries as resilient, high-value economic drivers — a shift that India is now positioned to leverage at scale.

Policy and Legal Framework Emphasis

The minister stressed that the creative economy's growth must be underpinned by robust legal and policy safeguards, including copyright protection, fair compensation for creators, and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Critics and industry observers have long flagged that India's intellectual property enforcement mechanisms remain inconsistent, and that AI-generated content poses fresh challenges for creator rights. Dr. Murugan urged young people to 'question assumptions and institutions with respect, reason and evidence' and channel their ideas and skills towards building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

What's Next

With AVGC Creator Labs rollout across schools and colleges expected to gain momentum, the focus will shift to whether skilling infrastructure can match the sector's projected talent demand of 2 million professionals by 2030. Industry stakeholders will watch closely for concrete policy timelines around copyright reform and AI governance — two pillars that will determine whether India's creative economy ambition translates from headline numbers into a durable growth engine.