Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan yesterday urged the various Indian States to take advantage of the industry-friendly rules and initiatives put in place by the federal government to promote global film shootings in their respective jurisdictions.

Speaking at an event organised in New Delhi yesterday to sensitise States’ representatives, especially the public relations officers, about the importance of creative economy, Murugan said that the India Cine Hub portal has been revamped into a unified single-window system, offering streamlined access to filmmaking permissions and services across the country— and that such initiatives should be taken advantage of by the States.

With GIS features and common forms, it supports ease of doing business and showcases India’s film-friendly policies, the Minister told the delegates.

According to an official statement put out by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the Minister also highlighted grassroots cinema initiatives that empower women and local communities through low-cost theatres.

He emphasized that global events organised by India — such as WAVES 2025 and IFFI Goa — attract global talent, boost India’s creative economy, promote cultural diplomacy worldwide and empower creative minds of tomorrow.

Murugan placed special emphasis on the recently launched Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT), which aims to skill youth in animation, gaming, music and other creative fields, highlighting the Indian Government’s efforts to boost the creator economy in the country.

The conference aimed to strengthen Centre-State coordination in public communication, ensure full-scale implementation and functionality of Press Sewa Portal and India Cine Hub, apart from exploring collaborative opportunities for developing film infrastructure and promoting India’s creative economy across various regions.

MIB Secretary Sanjay Jaju, while highlighting the rise of digital creators, and vernacular media, urged all States to integrate with the Press Sewa Portal for smoother publication processes and flagged concerns over disjointed responsibilities in media departments across States.

Jaju also dwelt on the economic potential of cinema and content creation, stressing the need to expand beyond metros and support local talent. He termed the WAVES, held in May in Mumbai, a global movement and announced plans for a radio conclave during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa to deepen dialogue and cooperation across the media ecosystem.

Seven States and two Union Territories had already completed full integration with the central portals, while 21 States and six UTs had been onboarded through a Common Application Form.

The conference discussed processing of applications and contributing verified data to improve India’s appeal as a global filming destination.The promotion of low-cost cinema halls in underserved areas was also discussed at the conference.

Despite India being one of the highest producers of films globally, access to cinema infrastructure has remained uneven. The Ministry has proposed the development of modular and mobile cinema models to serve tier-3 and tier-4 towns, rural regions and aspirational districts.

The conference discussed how to identify low screen density zones using GIS mapping, repurposing existing public infrastructure, streamlining licensing through single-window systems, and offering tax and land policy incentives to attract private investment in affordable cinema infrastructure.

Participation in major film and content platforms like the IFFI and WAVES Bazaar featured in the deliberations, apart from discussion on ways to further develop India’s live entertainment economy.