Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Central Budget for 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha. This marked her ninth budget presentation and a historic first in independent India, as it was delivered on a Sunday. The budget prioritizes economic growth, capacity building, and inclusive development under "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas." A key highlight is the strong push for the creative industries, known as the "Orange Economy," with multiple announcements that will directly empower content creators.

The Orange Economy refers to the creative sector, encompassing animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC), and digital content.

The Importance of the Orange Economy and Its Place in the Budget

Globally, the Orange Economy is growing rapidly. In India, this sector not only generates employment but also promotes cultural exports. In her budget speech, the Finance Minister noted that the AVGC industry will require nearly 20 lakh (2 million) professionals by 2030. Keeping this in mind, the government has decided to infuse new energy into the creative industries. This initiative focuses on equipping youth with digital skills to prepare them for the future.
Young scientist Shreyans Jain from Delhi-NCR says the Finance Minister has gifted enthusiastic young researchers and innovators with her budget proposals. Many research projects were stalled due to lack of government support, but that will change now. Shreyans Jain, associated with Celestial Aerospace, along with IIT collaborators, is developing a balloon-assisted rocket launch system. In this technology, a large balloon carries the rocket to the upper atmosphere where air is thinner and resistance is lower. Ignition there saves fuel and increases payload capacity by 2-3 times.
The budget describes the Orange Economy as a "new engine for creative jobs." This sector will drive services-based growth. India's creative space is already seeing a surge in startups and jobs, but the skills gap remains a major challenge. The budget takes concrete steps to bridge this gap, such as establishing labs in educational institutions. This will provide training to content creators right from school and college levels, preparing them for professional entry.

Key Announcement: Support for Content Creator Labs

The most prominent announcement is support for the Mumbai-based Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) to establish content creator labs. The Finance Minister proposed setting up these labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges. These labs will train students in animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics creation.
Why are these labs important? Shreyans Jain notes that in today's digital world, content creators earn lakhs on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. However, many youths lack access to professional tools and training. These labs will teach video production, editing, digital storytelling, and extended reality (XR) skills. Led by IICT, they will nurture talent at the grassroots level, strengthening India's creator workforce. Industry experts believe this will create a new generation of game developers, artists, and storytellers who produce content based on Indian intellectual property (IP).
Additionally, the budget proposes establishing a new National Institute of Design and Development in the eastern region to promote design education, where content creators can learn visual designing.

Another Major Initiative: Digital Knowledge Grid

The budget includes the creation of a Digital Knowledge Grid to digitally document India's historical, cultural, and tourism assets. The Finance Minister stated that this will generate new jobs for historians, researchers, and content creators. The grid will be an open platform, enabling creators to produce videos, documentaries, and digital content based on Indian heritage.
This is highly encouraging because content creators often struggle to find authentic sources. The Digital Knowledge Grid will provide high-quality data, allowing them to create educational and entertainment content. It will also boost tourism, with a pilot program to upskill 10,000 tourist guides at 20 iconic destinations. Content creators can monetize videos on these sites.

Indirect Support for the Creative Sector

The budget provides indirect incentives, including Rs 10,000 crore for funding creative startups. Additionally, incentives for municipal bonds worth Rs 100 crore will aid infrastructure improvements in major cities, potentially developing creative hubs.
Prof. Prabhanshu Ojha of Delhi University says Nirmala Sitharaman's budget encourages content creators through education, skilling, and job creation. Initiatives like labs and the Digital Knowledge Grid are steps toward making India a creative superpower. This youth-centric budget strengthens the vision of a "Viksit Bharat".

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