New Delhi: To boost India’s thriving media and entertainment industry, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR). The NCoE will be set up as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013 and will be located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Industry bodies such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will partner with the Government of India in this endeavor.
The creation of the NCoE follows the Union Budget 2022-23 announcement by the Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, which called for the establishment of an AVGC Task Force to strengthen India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.
Powering India’s Media and Entertainment Industry
The AVGC-XR sector has become indispensable to the country’s media and entertainment industry, playing a key role in filmmaking, OTT platforms, gaming, advertising, and even extending its reach into sectors like health and education. With rapid technological advancements, increased internet penetration, and India’s low data costs, the AVGC-XR sector is expected to grow exponentially on a global scale.
To drive this growth, the National Centre of Excellence will serve as a premier institution anchoring the country’s AVGC-XR ecosystem. It will offer specialized training programs for both amateurs and professionals, focusing on cutting-edge technologies in animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality. The NCoE will also promote research and development in collaboration with experts from computer science, engineering, design, and art, enabling significant breakthroughs in the AVGC-XR field.
Promoting Indian Content and Startups
One of the NCoE’s primary objectives is to create Indian intellectual property (IP), producing content for both domestic and global audiences. The Centre will also function as an incubation hub, providing resources for nurturing startups and early-stage companies in the AVGC-XR sector. This will help accelerate the sector’s growth while fostering an environment of creativity and innovation.
Furthermore, the NCoE will serve as both an academic and industry accelerator, bridging the gap between education and production, and ensuring that the workforce is equipped with the latest skills in AVGC-XR.
Boosting Employment and India’s Global Soft Power
By positioning the NCoE as the driving force behind India’s AVGC-XR industry, the Centre is expected to become one of the largest sources of employment for the youth across the country, giving a significant boost to the creative arts and design sector. The initiative also aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision, propelling India toward becoming a global hub for AVGC-XR activities.
Additionally, the Centre will help enhance India’s soft power by positioning the country as a global content hub, drawing foreign investments into India’s media and entertainment sector.
With the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR, India is set to become a world leader in animation, gaming, visual effects, and extended reality, further driving innovation, employment, and economic growth.
