The Press Information Bureau organized a one-day media workshop 'Varta' in Nagpur on July 14, 2026, focusing on creating a future-ready workforce for India's Creative Economy. Dr. Ashish Kulkarni, Board of Director at IICT Mumbai, revealed that India currently contributes approximately 3% to the global Orange Economy and aims to increase this share to 12-15% over the next decade.
The Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) is leading this initiative as the National Centre of Excellence for the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality) sector since July 2025, operating from the National Film Development Corporation complex in Mumbai. IICT will offer skill-based courses through a Hub-and-Spoke model, making programs available at its Mumbai headquarters and through regional and semi-urban centers.
In collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), IICT will introduce the 'Kaushal Bodh' curriculum to nurture creativity and develop skills among students from an early age. There is also a proposal to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 500 colleges and 15,000 schools across the country. Dr. Kulkarni highlighted India's rich storytelling tradition and indigenous knowledge systems, which are now being showcased globally through digital content across multiple platforms. Various Government Ministries along with film and creative institutions are developing customized courses to meet evolving sector needs, creating new opportunities for skill development and capacity building.
The workshop was chaired by Smt. Smita Vats Sharma, Director General (West Zone) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, who briefed participants about various Ministry initiatives. Senior editors and representatives of various media organizations attended the event held at Chitnavis Centre, Nagpur.