‘Content Creation’ in Focus as Budget 2026 Backs AVCG Sector

Unemployment has remained a long-standing challenge in the country. In a bid to address the issue, the Union Budget 2026 has laid emphasis on giving a boost to the Orange economy.

The orange economy refers to the creative economy, driven by ideas, culture, technology and intellectual property rather than the traditional manufacturing. It is a group of activities allowing transforming ideas into cultural goods and services, whose value is determined by intellectual property.

It encompasses AVCG (Animation, Visual effects, Comics and Gaming), film, music, and software, laying stress on ideas and cultural heritage, to promote tourism, employment and innovation.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the AVCG sector is projected to require nearly 2 million professionals by 2030. To meet the growing need, Sitharaman proposed that the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in Mumbai set up AVCG content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country. In the Budget, Rs 250 crore has been allocated for the development of AVCG talent.

Content Creator Labs

The content labs would give hands-on training to students in AVCG and development relevant skills necessary for creative careers and industry. In view of the rapidly expanding digital media and entertainment sector, students would be encouraged to experiment with ideas and create engaging content, to enable them generate revenue. At the same time, AVCG development would help position India firmly on the creative content developers’ map in the world.

Design Industry

The FM said that the design industry is expanding but the country is facing a severe shortage of designers. She proposed to establish a new National Institute of Design to boost design education in the eastern region of India.

Funds For Better Films

Speaking on development of heritage and culture tourism, she promised to develop 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Hastinapur, Sarnath and Leh Palace. In addition, the Budget doubled the investment in the National Film Development Corporation and the National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR to Rs 35 crore, against the Rs 17 crore allocated in Budget 2025-26.

The additional funds and establishment of content creator labs mark a shift in the perspective of the authorities from considering culture industries as marginal arts to a serious employment and export source in the digital economy.