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The launch of the 'Create in India' mission signals a strategic imperative for India to amplify its global presence in creative services. Building upon existing policy frameworks and infrastructure investments, this initiative seeks to formalize and accelerate the growth of the nation's 'Orange Economy', but its ambitious trajectory faces considerable real-world implementation challenges.
The Catalyst: 'Create in India' Takes Center Stage
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the forthcoming 'Create in India' mission at the AI Impact Summit 2026, articulating a vision to elevate India into a premier global hub for creative industries. This initiative is designed to power national growth for the next quarter-century by strengthening the 'Orange Economy' – a broad spectrum encompassing media, entertainment, animation, visual effects, gaming (AVGC-XR), digital content, and related creative services. This strategic focus aligns with the Union Budget 2026-27's acknowledgment of these sectors as key economic drivers. The mission aims to transform India from a mere service provider into a preferred global platform for creative output, moving beyond a 'back office' role.
Pillars of Growth: Digital Backbone and Human Capital
The mission's success is predicated on two fundamental pillars: India's rapidly expanding digital infrastructure and its substantial, increasingly skilled population. Pervasive internet and 5G connectivity [11, 15, 34] provide the necessary digital highways for content creation and distribution. To bolster the talent pipeline, the government is establishing the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) in Mumbai, with plans for numerous AVGC Content Creator Labs across 15,000 schools and 500 colleges. This ambitious plan aims to cultivate approximately two million skilled professionals by 2030 to meet projected industry demand [10, 31, 33].
India's Global Ambitions: Competing on the World Stage
India's 'Create in India' mission enters a global creative economy valued at approximately $2 trillion annually, employing over 50 million people worldwide [20, 33]. The nation leverages a significant cost advantage in animation and VFX, reportedly 40-60% lower than Western markets [8], alongside a large and growing creator base. Initiatives like the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 have already yielded practical outcomes, including the WaveX startup innovation platform and the WAVES Bazaar rights marketplace [2, 5, 9]. These efforts aim to support creators and facilitate business-to-business engagements, positioning India to capitalize on growing global demand for digital content, animation, and visual effects, a market projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars by 2030 [3, 25].
Structural Weaknesses: The Bear Case
While the mission's objectives are laudable, significant execution risks and structural hurdles loom. Developing nations often face challenges in establishing robust statistical systems, adequate institutional frameworks, and financial resources crucial for nurturing creative economies, as noted by UNCTAD [23]. India's plan to train two million AVGC professionals by 2030, while ambitious, strains existing educational infrastructure and raises questions about the quality and scalability of skill development. Furthermore, competing with established global creative powerhouses requires more than cost efficiencies; it demands sophisticated IP protection and market access strategies. A critical friction point is the integration of AI into creative workflows. Minister Vaishnaw advocates for "techno-legal solutions" [7, 34] to address the complex issues of copyright, consent, and compensation arising from AI training data. However, achieving consensus and effective implementation on these fronts remains a significant challenge, potentially diluting the value creators bring. The equitable distribution and consistent performance of digital infrastructure across all regions also represent a persistent concern.
Future Outlook: Policy Reinforcement and Economic Projections
The 'Create in India' mission is strategically embedded within broader national agendas like 'Digital India' and the Union Budget 2026-27. Projections indicate continued robust growth for India's Media & Entertainment sector, valued at approximately ₹2.5 trillion in 2024 and expected to reach ₹3.06 trillion by 2027 [6, 10]. The digital economy is also set to expand its contribution to GDP. This strategic push aims not only to generate significant employment, particularly for youth, but also to enhance India's soft power and economic diversification.