The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting's 5th meeting of the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC) reviewed significant growth and reforms in India's live events sector. Secretary Shri Chanchal Kumar reported the sector grew by 44% over the past year with approximately 34,000 events held across the country, now supporting more than one crore livelihoods. The government has set an ambitious target to double the sector by 2030, which could generate 15-20 million direct and ancillary jobs.
The LEDC, comprising 14 Central Ministries and Departments, 10 States and UTs, and 21 industry bodies, has driven key reforms including the Model Executive Order and Single Window Portal on India Cine Hub. The number of States and UTs with designated Nodal Officers has increased from 16 to 29. States and UTs were urged to designate Nodal Officers, integrate departmental and local licensing systems with the India Cine Hub Portal, and route complete licence lifecycles through the portal.
Five States have adopted the "Model Executive Order for Streamlining Licensing and Permissions for Live Events in India, 2026" shared on 13th March 2026, with Maharashtra making a presentation on its implementation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has streamlined FRRO re-registration requirements for short-term stays by foreign performers.
Central Ministries were requested to facilitate group visa provisions for artists and crews with customs duty exemption for show equipment, integrate live entertainment skills into the National Skills Qualification Framework, promote India as a global hub for event-based tourism, and provide financial incentives including GST rationalization and CSR alignment.
Next-generation reforms discussed include a single national music licence with notified tariffs to replace overlapping demands from multiple rights societies, notified entertainment precincts under the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, and relaxation of caps on foreign remittances for international artists. The Archaeological Survey of India and Sports Authority of India have issued SOPs for organizing live events at their assets, with major venues to be pre-approved to avoid repeated permissions.
The LEDC reviewed the framework for "Brownfield and Greenfield Venue Development" to address venue shortages, proposing inclusion of live event venues in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure Sub-sectors with project support through Viability Gap Funding. The Live Event Skilling Committee presented progress on skilling curriculum including an MoU between IIMC, MESC and EEMA, with certificate and short-term courses in live events. Inclusivity Guidelines for Safety of Women and Divyang-jan and a Green Concert Protocol were proposed for launch at WAVES 2027.