New Delhi: India’s Union Budget 2026-27 unleashes the ‘orange economy’ – creativity, culture, and digital content – with game-changing moves. Content creator labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges promise to skill millions of youth.

Mumbai’s creative hub gets a boost, while eastern India eyes new opportunities. Get ready for a wave of young creators shaping tomorrow’s entertainment world. Dive inside for more info.

Orange economy takes centre stage

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spotlighted the orange economy in Budget 2026-27, calling it a powerhouse for jobs and growth in animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC). This sector, driven by ideas and art, will fuel urban services, tourism, and employment, much like booming concert scenes abroad. The Economic Survey 2025-26 had already urged India to “squeeze the orange” for more juice from creative industries.

 Content labs for schools and colleges

A major win: Support for the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, to set up AVGC content creator labs nationwide. These labs will reach over 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, training students in digital storytelling, gaming, and animation. Hands-on skilling will turn classrooms into creative hubs, building India’s next gen of content creators.

 Mumbai Institute leads the charge

IICT Mumbai, modelled like IITs for creativity, gets direct budget backing to expand labs across India. It focuses on AVGC-XR (extended reality), fostering innovation and jobs in media and tech. This move formalises content creation as a key skill, aligning with the creator economy’s rise – already worth billions and eyeing $1 trillion by 2030.

 Eastern region joins the action

While nationwide, the budget eyes eastern India for balanced growth, with hints of new design institutes and infra boosts. Youth here will gain from labs, entrepreneurship, and skilling tied to regional strengths like storytelling and crafts. It promises jobs beyond farms, via value addition and digital tools.

These steps empower 2-2.5 million creators influencing consumer spending, formalising the ecosystem for scale. Budget 2026-27 positions India as a global creative leader.