Union Budget 2026-27: AVGC Industry Welcomes Modi Government’s Content Creator Labs Initiative Across Schools and Colleges

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget for 2026-27 on Sunday (February 1), the Indian Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector emerged as

a key beneficiary of the government's forward-looking digital and creative economy vision.

At the heart of the announcement was government support for the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai, to set up AVGC Content Creator Labs across 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges. These labs will focus on training students in animation, visual effects, gaming and comics, providing early exposure to industry-grade tools and creative technologies.

The initiative signals a clear intent to integrate creativity, technology and education, ensuring that students are equipped with future-ready skills from the school level itself. The move is also aligned with the government's broader ambition of positioning India as a global hub for digital content and creative technology.

Industry Welcomes Budget's Vision for Creative Talent

India's esports and gaming industry leaders welcomed the Budget announcement, calling it a critical step in strengthening the AVGC ecosystem and expanding employment opportunities for young Indians.

Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said the government's support for AVGC creator labs would play a vital role in building India's creative and digital talent pipeline.

"The Union Budget 2026-27's support for the AVGC sector through the expansion of AVGC creator labs is a strong step toward building India's creative and digital talent pipeline. The government's backing of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies reflects a clear commitment to equipping young Indians with future-ready skills across animation, gaming and storytelling," Rathee said.

He added that initiatives like these would help expand the talent pool needed to create immersive experiences and accelerate original intellectual property and high-quality game development in India.

Gaming and Esports See Long-Term Opportunity

Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of S8UL Esports and 8Bit Creatives, said the announcement addresses a long-standing need for structured skilling in a fast-growing industry.

"Having built teams and businesses in gaming and esports over the years, I've seen first-hand how rapidly the AVGC sector is growing and how urgently India needs structured skilling to keep pace. The projection of two million professionals required by 2030 highlights both the scale of the opportunity and the responsibility on industry and institutions to prepare future-ready talent," Agarwal said. He added that the initiative could help position India as a global hub for animation, gaming and digital storytelling.

Infrastructure and Technology Key to Realising the Vision

From a technology perspective, Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India, described the rollout of creator labs as a defining moment for workforce development. "The Budget's support for AVGC creator labs across 15,000 schools and 500 colleges marks a powerful step toward building a future-ready workforce. With the sector projected to require two million professionals by 2030, this initiative can accelerate job creation and empower young Indians to pursue high-value careers in gaming, animation and visual technologies," Parekh said. He stressed the importance of access to high-performance computing environments that meet global standards to fully unlock the sector's potential.

Skilling, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Pathways

Sagar Nair, Head of Incubation at LVL Zero Incubator, said the announcement reflects a strong commitment to India's creative economy.

"With the AVGC sector expected to require nearly two million professionals by 2030, the rollout of content creator labs across schools and colleges can expand early access to future-ready skills and inspire students to pursue careers in animation, VFX, gaming and comics," Nair said. He added that when skilling is paired with incubation and clear pathways to entrepreneurship, India can nurture creators capable of building original intellectual property and competing on the global stage.

A Defining Moment for India's Creative Economy

The Union Budget 2026-27 announcement marks a significant milestone for India's AVGC and gaming ecosystem. By embedding creative technology education into mainstream schooling and higher education, the government has laid the foundation for long-term growth in employment, innovation and global competitiveness.

With industry backing and institutional support aligning for the first time at this scale, the Budget's AVGC push could prove transformative-turning India's creative potential into a powerful economic and cultural force over the next decade.