Union Budget push for Orange Economy: AVGC labs in schools, new NID in eastern India

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced major initiatives to strengthen India’s “Orange Economy,” with a special focus on the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector and design education.

Presenting the Union Budget, the Finance Minister said India’s AVGC industry is emerging as a high-growth sector and is projected to require nearly two million professionals by 2030. 

To meet this demand and nurture creative talent at an early stage, she proposed support for the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai, to establish AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across the country.

“These labs will help students gain hands-on exposure to emerging creative technologies and prepare a skilled workforce for the future,” she said.

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Highlighting the rapid expansion of the design sector, Sitharaman also announced the establishment of a new National Institute of Design (NID) in the eastern region of India. The proposed institute is aimed at strengthening design education, fostering innovation and supporting regional development.

The initiatives are expected to boost employment opportunities, encourage creativity-driven entrepreneurship and position India as a global hub for digital content, gaming and design.