India Budget 2026 Puts Creator Economy in the Classroom
Key Takeaways:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across India
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) in Mumbai will oversee the initiative
India's Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics sector is projected to need 2 million professionals by 2030
The announcement is part of a broader push to develop India's "Orange Economy," the creative industries ecosystem
Industry leaders welcomed the move as a foundation for building India's next-generation creator workforce
India's Union Budget 2026 just put animation, gaming, and digital content creation into the school curriculum.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on February 1 that the government will support setting up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges nationwide.
What the government announced
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) in Mumbai will lead the initiative. Students will receive hands-on training in animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics. The goal: build a pipeline of skilled professionals for India's growing creative industries.
The government has allocated Rs 250 crore for AVGC talent development in the 2026-27 budget. The National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR received Rs 35 crore, up from Rs 17 crore last year.
Why India is betting on the "Orange Economy"
The Orange Economy refers to industries where creativity, intellectual property, and cultural content generate economic value. It includes animation, gaming, VFX, music, design, fashion, publishing, and live events.
According to the Economic Survey, gaming alone contributed Rs 23,200 crore in revenue in 2024. Animation and VFX added Rs 10,300 crore. The sector is growing at 25-30% annually.
India already functions as a global hub for animation and VFX outsourcing. Indian studios contributed to international blockbusters including Avengers: Endgame, The Jungle Book, and Frozen. Production costs run 40-60% lower than Western markets, with a workforce of around 260,000 creators and engineers.
How the industry is responding
Gaming and esports leaders welcomed the announcement. NODWIN Gaming co-founder Akshat Rathee called it "a strong step toward building India's creative and digital talent pipeline."
SuperGaming CEO Roby John pointed to the focus on original Indian intellectual property. "This matters because India's gaming and digital entertainment future will be built on original Indian IP, not just consumption."
Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Orange Economy is expected to create around 20 lakh (2 million) new jobs. The creator labs will extend beyond metro cities to build regional talent pools.
What this means for content creators and brands
The initiative signals government recognition that content creation is a legitimate career path, not a side hustle. By introducing training at the secondary school level, India aims to build creative skills before students make higher education decisions.
For brands operating in India, this means a growing pool of trained creators will enter the market over the coming years. Regional content in local languages will expand as training reaches beyond major cities.
The Budget also includes a new National Institute of Design in Eastern India and plans for university townships near industrial corridors to link education with industry needs.
India already has an estimated 35-45 lakh active content creators and a broader ecosystem of over 100 million participants. Structured training at scale could accelerate the shift from informal passion projects to professional creative careers.