Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her ninth consecutive Union Budget on Sunday, outlining key initiatives for 2026-27 during the parliamentary session. Among the highlights, measures targeting the creative economy—known as the Orange Economy—stand out, offering significant opportunities for digital artists, animators, storytellers, and experts in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) field.
Expansion of AVGC Content Creator Labs
The government plans to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in Mumbai. This initiative addresses the projected demand for two million skilled professionals in the AVGC sector by 2030.
These labs will provide students with practical training, access to professional-grade software, and guidance from industry mentors. The focus areas include animation, visual effects, game design, and comic creation, aiming to build a robust talent pool for India’s expanding AVGC industry.
Understanding the Orange Economy
The Orange Economy refers to the creative sector that integrates culture, innovation, technology, and intellectual property to drive economic growth, social advancement, and cultural enrichment. It plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development objectives.
Recent analysis from Ernst & Young forecasts an 18% compound annual growth rate for India’s creator economy, expanding from Rs 19 billion in 2023 to Rs 34 billion by 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s pivotal position in the global creative landscape during the WAVES 2025 summit, underscoring the value of the orange economy concept.
