Overview
As India's national nodal body for AVGC-XR, we unite government, industry, academia, and entrepreneurs to propel India into global creative tech leadership.
AVGC-XR in India
India's AVGC-XR industry has evolved from traditional animation studios into a global creative technology powerhouse. In 2024, the AVGC sector employed approximately 260,000 professionals across over 4,000 gaming studios and VFX outsourcing facilities, generating revenues near USD 3 billion with digital media growth at 14–16% annually. Major hubs specializing in 3D animation, visual effects, and game development have expanded from Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai to Tier-II cities, reflecting nationwide AVGC startup adoption.
Today's AVGC jobs market is remarkably dynamic, with over 85% of the skill development AVGC workforce under 35 and more than 60% located outside metros. India's talent excels in motion capture, real-time rendering, cloud gaming, and interactive entertainment, making the country a preferred destination for IP development and OTT animation projects.
Looking ahead, India AVGC policy initiatives project the sector crossing USD 26 billion by 2030, creating over 2.3 million AVGC jobs by 2032. The main reasons for this growth include surging demand for XR education, AR gaming, VR experiences, and Metaverse applications across entertainment, healthcare, and enterprise training. Government support through AVGC policy frameworks, XR lab investments, and institutions like IICT are accelerating AI in animation, extended reality research, and digital storytelling innovation. With strategic AVGC investment and industry collaboration, India is positioned to capture significant AVGC industry India market share, establishing leadership in global XR innovations.
Our Story
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) is the culmination of nearly two decades of advocacy and planning within India's AVGC-XR sector. The journey began in 2005 with Ashish Kulkarni's white paper advocating for a specialized institute similar to the IITs for the animation industry. Following industry consultations by FICCI in 2006-2007 and a PWC-commissioned Detailed Project Report (DPR), the project gained momentum despite early challenges around location selection. adoption.
The transformative phase arrived in 2014 when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the initiative as a government priority. After extensive deliberations involving multiple stakeholders, the structure evolved to include NFDC, FICCI, and CII as key partners. The breakthrough came in February 2022 with the announcement of the AVGC-XR Task Force, led by Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in the Union Budget, leading to the formation of specialized sub-groups for education, skilling, policy, and gaming.
Following comprehensive consultations and policy development, including India's first National Policy for AVGC-XR, the Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality on September 18, 2024. Now operational with its interim campus at NFDC's Pedder Road facility and permanent campus planned for Mumbai's Film City, IICT embodies the "Create in India for the World" vision, positioned to drive India's emergence as a global leader in creative technology and digital storytelling.