New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2026, announced a series of initiatives aimed at empowering youth in the digital era and promoting the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sector. The Budget provides targeted support for emerging creative industries, reflecting the government’s focus on developing India as a global hub for digital content and gaming.
To equip the next generation with necessary digital skills, the government plans to establish 15,000 state-of-the-art Content Creator Labs in secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country. These labs, developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in Mumbai, will provide students with practical training in video editing, graphic designing, and digital storytelling, bridging the gap between education and industry requirements.
The Budget emphasises India’s ambition to become a global gaming hub, with plans to create one million gaming jobs in the near term. The government will recognise the gaming and e-sports industry as a structured sector and provide special incentives to startups. Skill development programs will be scaled to meet the projected requirement of around two million professionals in this sector by 2030.
Under the AVGC Mission, substantial funding will be provided for the creation of original intellectual property. Additionally, the government plans to expand digital infrastructure and provide high-speed internet even in rural areas, enabling content creators nationwide to access cutting-edge technology and platforms. Gaming development courses will also be introduced in ITIs and polytechnic colleges to enhance skill development.
Sitharaman highlighted the potential of Indian youth in creative industries, stating that the Budget will provide world-class infrastructure and opportunities for Indian creators to compete globally. She emphasised that smartphones and the internet will not just serve as entertainment tools but as avenues for employment, driving a new wave of innovation and entrepreneurship in the creative economy.