The Budget 2026 announced the rollout of AVGC Content Creator Labs across 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges to nurture creativity, digital storytelling, and next-gen media skills.
BY PC Bureau
February 1, 2092: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s creative and design industries as part of the Union Budget 2026, underlining the government’s focus on future-ready skills and employment generation.
Highlighting the rapid expansion of the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sector, the Finance Minister said the industry is projected to require nearly two million skilled professionals by 2030. To meet this growing demand, the government has proposed the establishment of AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country.
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These labs, to be supported by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, will focus on nurturing creativity, digital storytelling, immersive media, and advanced production skills among students. The initiative aims to build a strong talent pipeline and equip young learners with industry-relevant capabilities, preparing them for emerging opportunities in digital media, gaming, animation, and related fields.
India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics #AVGC sector is a growing industry, projected to require 2 million professionals by 2030. I propose to support the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai in setting up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary… pic.twitter.com/clFALx1CNw
— PIB India (@PIB_India) February 1, 2026
Addressing gaps in design education, Sitharaman also announced plans to establish a new National Institute of Design (NID) in eastern India through the Challenge Route. She noted that while India’s design industry is expanding rapidly, the country faces a significant shortage of professionally trained designers.
The proposed institute is expected to enhance access to high-quality design education, foster innovation, and promote regional skill development, thereby creating greater opportunities for aspiring designers and entrepreneurs in the eastern region.
In addition, the government plans to develop five university townships near major industrial corridors to strengthen industry-academia collaboration. These townships will provide students with hands-on exposure, research opportunities, and real-world training, helping bridge the gap between education and employment.
By integrating creative education with industrial infrastructure and skill development, the Budget 2026 initiatives aim to position India as a global hub for digital content, animation, gaming, and design, while generating large-scale employment in high-growth creative sectors.
