India bets on creator economy with 15,000 school content labs

India will roll out content creator laboratories in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges as part of a new push to professionalise its fast-growing creator economy.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the plan while presenting the Union Budget 2026, positioning the initiative as part of government support for the country’s so-called “Orange Economy” – sectors driven by creativity and media.

The labs will be developed through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and will focus on animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and digital content production.

“India’s animation, visual effects, gaming and comics sector is a growing industry, projected to require two million professionals by 2030,” Sitharaman said in her budget speech. “I propose to support the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in setting up AVGC and content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country.”

The move signals a shift toward formal training for creators at the school level, as India looks to turn its large base of online talent into a more structured workforce.

Government policy documents describe the Orange Economy as industries that generate value primarily from artistic expression and intellectual property rather than physical goods. Officials say these sectors could become major drivers of employment and tourism.

The announcement builds on India’s earlier steps to formalise the creator sector. In 2025, information minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled a $1bn fund aimed at supporting digital creators to improve production quality and develop more sustainable business models.

Industry estimates suggest creator-led consumption in India could exceed $1tn by 2030. The country is home to roughly 2 to 2.5 million active digital creators, though only a small proportion currently earn consistent income from their audiences.

Industry players welcomed the move as a step toward building long-term creator infrastructure. Lal Chand Bisu, chief executive of audio and content platform Kuku, said the announcement recognised the growing role of creators in India’s digital economy.

“We welcome initiatives that strengthen India’s creator ecosystem,” he said. “For the past eight years, Kuku has supported storytellers across the country, now working with more than 50,000 creators and investing over ₹100 crore ($12m) annually in creator-led platforms.”

Other recent initiatives in India have also focused on professional standards. In December, the Indian Influencer Governing Council introduced India’s first formal certification for influencers, citing the need to improve credibility and contract literacy across the industry.

Enjoying The Daily Influence? Read by 1,000+ professionals following how the creator economy is evolving. Get our reporting delivered to your inbox.