Beyond Factories: Maharashtra’s Orange Economy is Shaping the Future

Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasised that the state has the ecosystem, talent, and scale to emerge as a global hub for the AVGC sector, highlighting how serious Maharashtra is about this transformation. Initiatives like Gen O – Pixels & Play bring together creators, startups, tech experts, and artists, opening up new opportunities in fields such as digital storytelling, gaming, and immersive media.





The Orange Economy sees culture and creativity not just as expressions, but as powerful engines of economic growth. It brings together cultural industries, creative services, heritage-based work, and experience-driven sectors where ideas, talent, and intellectual property turn into real income and meaningful jobs. Around the world, these industries are shaping cities, boosting tourism, and opening new avenues for employment and exports.


For India, the Orange Economy carries an even deeper significance. It transforms the country’s rich heritage, vibrant diversity, and creative spirit into opportunity and global recognition. It beautifully bridges tradition with modern platforms, allowing local stories, art, and skills to reach the world while contributing to the nation’s growth in a way that feels both authentic and inspiring. The state is heavily promoting Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).


Where does Maharashtra stand in India’s Orange Economy?

Maharashtra is rapidly emerging as the powerhouse of India’s Orange Economy, driven by digital creativity, gaming, and content creation. With Mumbai and Pune at its core, the state is shaping itself into a global hub for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC).


Mumbai continues to be the heart of India’s media and entertainment industry, contributing significantly to the 2.78 trillion sector, as highlighted by the FICCI-EY Report 2026. Building on this strength, a 50-acre AVGC complex near Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed to foster innovation and talent.


What truly sets this growth apart is its reach. The sector is expected to create nearly 8.5 lakh jobs, while plans for 12 AVGC hubs across the state aim to take opportunities beyond Mumbai. In essence, Maharashtra’s Orange Economy is not just growing; it is creating a future where creativity fuels careers and ideas turn into impact.



This clearly shows how Maharashtra is beginning to view the Orange Economy in a highly positive light, not just by recognising creativity, but by actively providing young minds with platforms to grow, innovate, and express themselves. As Shripad Ashtekar, founder of EFlag Corp, rightly pointed out, the aim is to create a shared space where creators and innovators can connect and collaborate. Looking at the current momentum, it strongly suggests that India is on the path to becoming a global leader in the creative and digital economy.


At a broader level, India’s push in the AVGC-XR sector is not just about building an industry; it is about opening real opportunities for young creators to transform their passion into meaningful and stable careers. Whether it is designers, animators, coders, or storytellers, this sector is creating a space where creativity meets economic opportunity. With a clear national roadmap focused on skill development, original content, industry collaboration, and global outreach, the vision goes beyond growth to ensure long-term employment. With the potential to generate nearly 20 lakh jobs in the coming decade, this sector is emerging as a strong pillar of India’s digital future.


Overall, Maharashtra’s approach reflects a significant shift in mindset where activities like gaming, animation, and digital content creation are no longer dismissed as distractions but embraced as valuable opportunities. By supporting youth and nurturing their talents, the state is not only empowering individuals but also contributing to the growth of the nation’s economy and strengthening India’s position in the global Orange Economy.

Key Initiatives

National AI Skilling Initiative: At the heart of this transformation is the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), a National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR and gaming. By offering structured training, advanced infrastructure, and direct industry exposure, IICT plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world industry demands. This initiative aims to train 15,000 creators, helping them build skills in AI-driven digital storytelling, gaming, and AVGC, so they can turn their creativity into real career opportunities.


MyWAVES Platform: A dedicated feature on the WAVES OTT platform that supports user-generated content (UGC), giving local creators a chance to showcase and monetise their stories in regional languages and reach a much wider audience.


WaveX Accelerator:An incubation and acceleration program under IICT that supports media and entertainment startups, helping young entrepreneurs turn their creative ideas into successful businesses with the right guidance and resources.


WAVES Bazaar: A digital marketplace designed for creators to buy, sell, and license scripts, music, comics, and audio-visual content. It opens up opportunities for collaboration not just within India, but also globally through cross-border partnerships.


Advanced EPG with In-built Satellite Tuners: A technology-driven initiative that allows users to access DD Free Dish directly on their TV sets without needing a set-top box, making cultural and educational content more affordable and easily accessible, especially for a wider population.


Budgetary & Strategic Frameworks

Create in India Challenge (CIC): A national-level competition conducted across 33 creative categories such as animation, gaming, VR, and music, aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging talent. It not only recognises creativity but also provides participants with opportunities to showcase their work on international platforms.


AVGC Content Creator Labs: Planned to be set up in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges, these labs aim to train nearly 2 million professionals by 2030. Apart from this, a group of seven centers working to preserve India’s rich folk traditions. They support traditional artists by giving them platforms, recognition, and opportunities to earn a sustainable livelihood from their art.|

National Institute of Design (Eastern Region):A proposed design institute aimed at reducing regional skill gaps and making quality design education more accessible, especially in underserved parts of the country.


Creative Economy Fund: A proposed $1 billion fund designed to support creative startups by investing in infrastructure and the development of original intellectual property, helping ideas grow into sustainable and scalable ventures.


Supporting schemes that boost the creative sector

Scheme for Promotion of Traditional Arts and Crafts (SPTAC): Focuses on strengthening the skills of traditional artisans while also helping them reach wider markets through digital platforms, ensuring that their art remains relevant in today’s world.


PM Vishwakarma Yojana: Supports artisans involved in 18 traditional trades by providing training, modern toolkits, and easy access to loans, helping them improve their work and build sustainable livelihoods.


USTTAD Scheme: Aims at preserving and upgrading the skills of artisans from minority communities, ensuring that their rich cultural traditions are not lost but continue to grow with time.


Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD): Provides grants for projects that document, map, and promote the cultural heritage of Indian villages, bringing local traditions and stories into the national spotlight.


One District One Product (ODOP) : Creative Component: Focuses on identifying and promoting unique regional crafts, helping local products gain recognition, better branding, and access to larger markets.


Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) : Works towards the overall development of handicrafts by supporting artisans with infrastructure, training, and market access, ensuring stable and sustainable livelihoods.


The Orange Economy is emerging as a powerful force in India, turning creativity into real opportunities and careers. With strong support from initiatives and institutions such as the IICT and proactive states such as Maharashtra, the country is creating a space where both modern innovation and traditional art can grow together. This not only empowers youth but also strengthens India’s position in the global creative economy, and soon, even the idea of a green economy will naturally become a part of development, not just focusing on growth and profits, but also caring for our environment, using resources responsibly, and building a future where both people and the planet can truly thrive together.