Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan delivered the keynote address at the YouTube Impact Summit 2026, highlighting the significant economic contribution of India's digital creator ecosystem. According to the YouTube Impact Report unveiled at the summit, YouTube's creative ecosystem contributed more than ₹18,000 crore to India's GDP in 2025 and supported over 9.6 lakh full-time-equivalent jobs across the country.
The minister revealed that content produced in India receives over 15% of its watch time from international audiences, while more than 18,000 Indian YouTube channels have crossed one million subscribers. He emphasized India's transition from digital consumers to creators and innovators, noting that digital technology has enabled talent from every district, language, and community to reach global audiences.
Dr. Murugan articulated the government's vision for AI to empower rather than replace creators, stating that AI can assist in writing, translation, editing, animation, composition, design, and distribution while human imagination remains central to creativity. He stressed the need for accessible, responsible, and ethical use of emerging technologies while emphasizing that constitutional values must endure despite rapid technological changes.
The minister highlighted several government initiatives to strengthen creative talent pathways, including WAVES, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Create in India Challenges, Gems of India, WAVES Bazaar, MyWAVES, and Creator's Corner. He specifically noted the Union Budget 2026-27 provision for AVGC content-creator laboratories in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, addressing the industry's projected requirement of nearly 2 million professionals by 2030.
Dr. Murugan emphasized the relevance of constitutional values—justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity—in India's digital transformation, specifically referencing Article 19 freedoms subject to reasonable restrictions and Fundamental Duties under Article 51A. He called for responsible creation, sharing, verification, and innovation in the digital age while encouraging creators to take India's cultural heritage to global audiences through various digital mediums.
The summit, themed 'Co-Creating Impact: India's Digital Leadership and the Orange Economy,' brought together policymakers, technology leaders, creators, entrepreneurs, and innovators to advance Viksit Bharat 2047 through building an inclusive and globally competitive creative ecosystem.