The Union Budget 2026–27’s proposal to support AVGC content creator labs across 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges has drawn strong support from leaders across the creative, education, marketing and media ecosystem, who see it as a decisive step toward building India’s future-ready talent pipeline.
Reacting to the announcement, Atul Hegde, Founder and MD, YAAP, said the move reflects a deeper understanding of how young Indians engage with creativity and the digital economy.
“The Budget’s acknowledgement of the AVGC ecosystem goes beyond gaming or animation as sectors — it reflects a deeper understanding of how India’s youth learn, create and participate in the digital economy. By proposing AVGC Content Creator Labs across schools and colleges, the government is effectively recognising content creation, visual storytelling and interactive media as mainstream career pathways rather than side hustle.”
Hegde added that early exposure could formalise creative aspirations. “For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, creativity is native, platform-led and community-driven. Early exposure to structured tools, mentorship and digital infrastructure can help convert informal passion into employable skills and sustainable careers.”
Highlighting the education and design ecosystem, Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy, said the Budget places creativity firmly at the centre of India’s growth strategy. “This Budget places education firmly at the heart of India’s growth strategy and recognises the transformative power of the orange economy.”
She also underlined the relevance of the AVGC push amid rising talent demand. “Equally encouraging is the push for AVGC and content creation, with creator labs in schools and colleges addressing the massive talent demand expected by 2030. Together, these measures position creativity as a core economic driver.”
From an industry and IP creation perspective, Rajiv Chilaka, Founder and CEO, Green Gold Animation, described the announcement as a turning point for the sector. “The Finance Minister’s renewed focus on the AVGC sector and structured content creation at both school and college levels is a transformative step for India’s creative economy.”
Chilaka emphasised the scale of the initiative. “By establishing Animation, VFX, Gaming and Comics Content Creator Labs across thousands of educational institutions, the government is building a deep, sustainable talent pipeline aligned with the industry’s projected requirement of nearly 2 million professionals by 2030.”
He also pointed to its impact beyond metros. “What is particularly encouraging is the strong push this will give to regional content creators, enabling talent beyond metro cities to access world-class tools, training, and production ecosystems.”
Viewing the Budget through a marketing and MSME lens, Tamanna Gupta, Founder, Umanshi Marketing, said the measures reflect a shift toward long-term ecosystem building. “The 2026 Budget is a clear signal that the government is pivoting from simple credit support to long-term equity and ecosystem depth.”
She added that the AVGC focus complements India’s digital ambitions. “The scale of digital ambition is equally staggering, nearly doubling the Electronics Component Manufacturing outlay to Rs 40,000 crore and the push for the ‘Orange Economy’ through AVGC labs in 15,000 schools shows a commitment to the creative and tech-led workforce of the future.”
From a skilling and policy standpoint, Rohin Kapoor, Partner, Education and Skilling, BDO India, noted that the AVGC initiative fits into a broader capacity-building agenda. “The Union Budget lays strong emphasis on building the capacity of our people through skilling interventions, including it as one of the three kartavyas defining this year’s Budget.”
He added: “The announcement of AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, anchored by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, is a clear effort to develop talent for new-age services.”
Adding a Media and Entertainment and TMT perspective, Manpreet Singh Ahuja, Chief Clients Officer and TMT Leader, PwC India, said the ‘Orange Economy’ focus could significantly strengthen India’s content leadership. “For media and entertainment, the ‘Orange Economy’ push, especially AVGC content creator labs across 15,000 schools and 500 colleges, could create a pipeline for India to lead in content, gaming, and immersive storytelling.”
He added that the combined measures could accelerate broader national goals. “Taken together, these measures can strengthen the TMT flywheel, better infrastructure, better innovation, better trust, and better growth, thereby accelerating India’s Viksit Bharat goals.”
