(GIST OF YOJANA) India’s Global Cultural Leadership in AVGC

(MAY-2025)

India’s Global Cultural Leadership in AVGC

Context:

India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and -I Comics (AVGC) sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, propelled by digital advancements, shifting consumer preferences, and global content demands. No longer a niche segment, AVGC now occupies a central place in the country’s media and entertainment landscape. Technological breakthroughs and rising internet penetration have fuelled its evolution into a vibrant and innovative field with vast potential for economic and cultural impact.

From Passive Viewers to Global Creators

India’s AVGC journey is undergoing a significant transformation—from content consumption to global content creation. Backed by a young, digitally-sawy population and forward-looking government policies, the sector is poised to emerge as a creative and economic force on the world stage.
The convergence of immersive technology, creative expression, and entrepreneurial energy is turning India into a dynamic content powerhouse. As the country builds its AVGC infrastructure and ecosystem, it also reinforces its cultural influence globally— marking a definitive step toward New India’s emergence as a leader in digital storytelling and soft power diplomacy.

Laying the Groundwork for India’s Creative Ascent

A Visionary Leap for the Creative Economy

India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sector is witnessing a transformative surge, reshaping the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry. Driven by technological advancements, rising content consumption, and a youthful digital-savvy population, the sector is charting a high-growth trajectory. Recognising this momentum, the Government of India has initiated a landmark step: the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in AVGC-XR.
Envisaged as a strategic institution for nurturing talent and promoting innovation, the NCoE aims to position India as a global leader in immersive digital content creation.

From Concept to Commitment: Genesis of the NCoE

The foundation of the NCoE stems from the Union Budget 2022-23, which announced the formation of an AVGC Task Force. Its mandate was to assess sectoral potential, identify challenges, and chart a future roadmap. A key outcome was the recommendation to create a world-class, centralised institution— one that could spearhead skill development, foster research, and catalyse original content production. This vision materialised into the NCoE, a bold expression of India’s commitment to building a resilient AVGC ecosystem.

Salient Features of the NCoE: A Game-Changer for AVGC-XR

The National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) has been designed to function as a comprehensive incubation and research hub for the AVGC-XR industry, with a clear vision to position India as a world-class creative powerhouse. The key features of the NCoE include:

1. Intellectual Property (IP)

Creation for Global Outreach One of the fundamental goals of the NCoE is to extensively focus on the creation of Indian Intellectual Property (IP) that caters to both domestic and international markets. By fostering original content development, it aims to establish India as a leader in storytelling and immersive experiences.

2. Incubation Centre for Startups

and Early-Stage Companies The NCoE will serve as an incubation hub, offering resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities to nurture startups and early-stage companies in the AVGC-XR sector. This initiative will create an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and technological advancements.

3- Positioning India as a Global Content Hub

With state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge research facilities, the NCoE will position India as a content hub for high-quality animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality. By leveraging its talent pool, India aims to become a key player in global content production.

4. Strengthening India’s

Soft Power & Attracting Investments By enhancing India’s capabilities in AVGC-XR, the NCoE will contribute to India’s soft power globally. This will not only strengthen India’s cultural and digital influence but also attract foreign investments into the M&E sector, boosting economic growth.

5. Location and Industry Collaboration

The NCoE is being established in Mumbai, Maharashtra—the heart of India’s entertainment industry. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will represent industry bodies as partners alongside the Government of India, ensuring strong public-private collaboration.

6. A Central Institution for the AVGC-XR Ecosystem

As a pinnacle institution, the NCoE will anchor the entire AVGC-XR ecosystem in India, bringing together academia, industry, and policymakers to drive innovation, capacity building, and global competitiveness.

7. Research & Development for Breakthrough Innovations

The NCoE will play a crucial role in fostering R&D, bringing together experts from various disciplines, including science, technology, and the arts. This interdisciplinary approach will lead to major breakthroughs in AVGC-XR technologies, contributing to sectors beyond entertainment, such as education, healthcare, defence, and tourism.

Conclusion:

As India accelerates toward a digital-first economy, the AVGC sector emerges as a key pillar of its creative and technological aspirations, The NCoE stands at the forefront of this vision, empowering the nation not only to compete on the global stage but also to set new benchmarks in immersive content creation. It signals the dawn of a new era where imagination meets innovation— and where India’s stories transcend borders.