In a vibrant celebration of creativity and innovation, the grand finale of the ‘Create in India Challenge (CIC)’ Season 1 was held on May 2 in Mumbai, as part of the ongoing WAVES Summit, where winners of 32 creative challenges were honoured amidst cheers and cultural energy. With over 750 finalists from more than 60 countries present under one roof, the event marked a defining moment in India’s vision to lead the global creative economy.

According to a press release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw termed the occasion “historic,” noting that it was the first time creativity was being celebrated and rewarded at such a massive scale in India. “For the first time, an award is being given purely for creativity. This journey has only just begun. With this initiative, you are stepping into a world of new opportunities,” he said. He also announced the launch of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology—a pioneering institution intended to nurture creative and technological talent on the lines of how IITs shaped India’s engineering future.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan praised the digital fluency and ambition of the youth, calling the CIC platform “a beautiful example of how young minds are fusing creativity with technology.” He also highlighted the strength of Nari Shakti and the rise of original Indian content creators, expressing optimism for the future of India’s media innovation.

Reflecting on the challenge’s growth, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, shared its origin story. “When we began in August, there were 25 challenges across the M&E spectrum. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned CIC in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address in September, participation surged. The number of challenges grew to 32. We received nearly one lakh registrations. Today, 750 finalists are here—and each of them is a winner,” he said.

The Create in India Challenge was conceptualised as a global launchpad for emerging talent across animation, gaming, digital music, XR, AI filmmaking, and digital art. With entries from over 60 countries and 1,100+ international participants, the competition showcased a remarkable confluence of culture, technology, and creative storytelling. Every challenge—from the Anime Challenge to the XR Creator Hackathon—was designed to promote futuristic content creation and foster collaboration between technologists, storytellers, and creative entrepreneurs.

The awards ceremony was graced by an illustrious lineup of Indian media stalwarts including Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Vikrant Massey, Prasoon Joshi, and Aroon Purie, who engaged with the finalists and handed out awards, lending the event a mix of glamour and gravitas.

Held in collaboration with leading industry bodies and creative partners, CIC Season 1 went beyond recognising talent—it served as a bold declaration of India’s ambition to be a global leader in content innovation and creative technologies. As the WAVES Summit continues to unfold in Mumbai, initiatives like these are carving a place for India at the heart of the world’s creative future.