Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has highlighted the growing significance of the creator economy, saying it provides a “democratic platform” for citizens to showcase India’s diverse culture and creativity while opening new opportunities for young talent in the digital era.

He, according to an official statement put out by the government yesterday, was speaking at a breakout session organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) during the post-Budget webinar on ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling Aspirations of People: Education, Skills and University Townships’ on March 9.

The session focused on the implementation roadmap for setting up Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Content Creator Labs in educational institutions across the country, as announced in the Union Budget 2026–27. The proposed initiative aims to establish such labs in about 15,000 secondary schools and 500 higher educational institutions to nurture creative talent and strengthen India’s AVGC ecosystem.

Vaishnaw also highlighted the establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), envisioned on the lines of premier institutions such as the IITs and IIMs, to provide high-quality training in emerging areas of the creative, media and technology sectors. He said the institute would house advanced laboratories comparable with global standards and help prepare young professionals for new-age creative industries.

The Minister further noted that public broadcaster Doordarshan has launched a ‘Creators’ Corner’, enabling digital creators to showcase their work, earn revenue and reach audiences across India and globally.

According to him, such initiatives would help expand opportunities in the rapidly growing digital media and entertainment ecosystem.

The webinar series was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who underlined the government’s focus on promoting the AVGC sector as a key pillar of an innovation-driven economy. He called for stronger industry–academia collaboration and research-oriented learning so that educational institutions can become centres of innovation and industry engagement.

Delivering the keynote address, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju emphasised the need to build a robust ecosystem to nurture creative talent and position India as a global leader in the AVGC sector.

The breakout session, moderated by Chaitanya Chinchlikar of Whistling Woods International institute, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, educators and students to discuss curriculum design, infrastructure needs and skill pathways for the emerging creator economy.

Participants stressed that establishing Content Creator Labs in schools and colleges would create structured pathways for students to explore careers in animation, gaming, VFX and digital storytelling. The discussions also highlighted the importance of industry partnerships for mentorship, internships and real-world exposure, with the initiative expected to strengthen India’s position in the global AVGC ecosystem.