India’s Creative Economy To Reach $100 Bn By 2030: Murugan

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan on Thursday said the government aims to build India’s creative economy into a USD 100-billion sector by 2030, opening up significant opportunities for young professionals in animation, gaming and visual effects.

Addressing the orientation programme ‘Deeksharambh 2026’ at the Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Sector 62, Noida, Murugan said the creative economy would play an increasingly important role in shaping employment, entrepreneurship and India's economic future.

He said the animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) sector alone would require around two million skilled professionals, underlining the need to prepare young people for emerging opportunities in the digital and creative industries.

“The government is preparing a roadmap for the country's youth up to 2047; the future belongs to the youth. The National Education Policy also emphasises entrepreneurship, with young people believing that ‘one should not just seek jobs, but also create them’. The creative economy is the new future,” Murugan said.

His remarks place the spotlight on the growing importance of skills, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking as India works towards its long-term economic ambitions. The creative economy, encompassing areas such as animation, gaming, visual effects and other digital content, is emerging as a potential avenue for young Indians to participate in global markets.

The programme, organised by JIIT's Centre for Digital and Online Education (CDOE), brought online learners to the institute's Sector 62 campus for an opportunity to interact with its leadership, explore its facilities and engage with representatives from government and industry.

The orientation was designed to give students pursuing online programmes a more direct connection with the institution, even as much of their academic engagement takes place through virtual classrooms.

A national initiative launched by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Union Education Ministry, Deeksharambh aims to help students transition smoothly into higher education.

Designed as a comprehensive guide to Student Induction Programmes (SIPs), it provides a structured framework for universities and colleges to welcome newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students, familiarise them with their academic environment and prepare them for campus life.

Welcoming the learners, Pro-Chancellor S. C. Saxena highlighted the significance of the campus experience in their educational journey.

“Even though most of your learning journey happens online, this day can be one of the most memorable days of your journey with JIIT,” Saxena said in his welcome address.

JIIT Vice-Chancellor Rajiv Kumar, Directors, deans, heads of departments, faculty members and students associated with JIIT and JIIT Online were among those present on the occasion.

The online programmes represented included BTech, MTech, BBA, MBA, BCA and MCA.

The orientation also offered learners an opportunity to understand how technology-enabled education can connect academic learning with professional expectations. As online education expands, institutions are increasingly seeking ways to combine digital instruction with practical exposure, faculty interaction and industry engagement.

During their campus visit, students explored JIIT's Digital Learning Centre, high-end recording studios and facilities supporting live online classes. They also met faculty members whom many had previously encountered only through their screens.

According to the institute, its faculty members have academic and professional backgrounds associated with institutions including Harvard, INSEAD, the University of California, Berkeley, Purdue University, the Indian Institutes of Technology, the National Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management and BITS.

The institute said the next phase of the learners' educational experience would focus on connecting classroom concepts with real-world business practices. Through live online classes and interactions with industry professionals including those from the multinational companies (MNCs), students are expected to gain insights into how organisations make decisions, develop strategies and respond to changing markets.

The approach is intended to help learners translate their academic knowledge into practical skills, professional confidence and improved career readiness.

JIIT, Noida, is a deemed-to-be university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act and has more than 25 years of experience in higher education.

The orientation comes at a time when India's education system is placing greater emphasis on digital learning, employability and entrepreneurship.