India Targets Global Live Events Leadership by 2030
The Government of India has identified the live events sector as a crucial driver of economic growth, employment generation, tourism, and cultural promotion. To facilitate sustainable growth and position India as a global hub for live events by 2030, the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC) was constituted in July 2025 under the chairmanship of the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with representation from Central Ministries, State Governments, industry associations, and other stakeholders.
Four LEDC meetings have been held on August 26, 2025; October 16, 2025; February 4, 2026; and April 30, 2026, resulting in several key initiatives. The cell has prepared and circulated an Execution Framework outlining a comprehensive strategy for sector growth to all stakeholders.
A major achievement is the operationalization of an online permission system on the India Cine Hub portal, providing a single digital workflow covering application, coordination, approvals, payments, and inspections with timebound processing, real-time tracking, escalation of delays, integrated digital payments, and digital audit trails. Twenty-nine States and Union Territories have designated their Nodal Officers for live event permissions on this portal.
The LEDC prepared and circulated the "Model Executive Order for Streamlining Licensing and Permissions for Live Events in India, 2026" to all States and Union Territories on March 13, 2026, with three States/UT having implemented it so far. The Archaeological Survey of India has framed a Standard Operating Procedure for organizing live events at protected monuments and identified 224 heritage sites for this purpose.
A concept note on a Greenfield Venue Development Policy has been circulated to State Governments, sports authorities, and industry stakeholders. For workforce development, a Skilling Committee has been constituted, and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, in collaboration with the Media and Entertainment Skills Council and the Event and Entertainment Management Association, is developing certificate and short-term courses in live events along with elective modules in existing programs.
The LEDC has identified several regulatory issues including visa and FRRO facilitation for visiting artists and crews, use of sports and heritage venues, streamlining of music licensing, permissions for events beyond 10 p.m., taxation, and access to finance, which have been shared with concerned Ministries for consideration.
A significant regulatory change emerged from LEDC recommendations: the Reserve Bank of India has dispensed with the requirement of furnishing a Bank Guarantee for advance remittances of USD 500,000 and above for the import of services under the Foreign Exchange Management Regulations, 2026, notified on January 15, 2026. These regulations will come into force from October 1, 2026.
This information was provided by Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, in a written reply to an Unstarred Question in the Lok Sabha.