India’s Union Budget 2026–27 sharpened its focus on the so-called Orange Economy spanning creative industries, design, animation, gaming, culture and sports as the government seeks to harness youth-led services, cultural capital and digital creativity to support long-term growth and employment.
The budget positioned creative and sports-led services as a strategic pillar of the broader services economy, aligning them with the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat and its emphasis on skills, innovation and global cultural influence.
Strong push for AVGC & Creator Ecosystem
- A key highlight was the expansion of support for the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics) sector, seen as a fast-growing global industry where India has significant talent advantages.
- The government announced the setting up of AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, aimed at early skilling and building a pipeline of digital creators. The initiative is expected to strengthen India’s presence in global animation, gaming, immersive media and digital storytelling markets, while also supporting self-employment and start-ups in creative services.
- Officials said the move would help integrate creativity with technology, particularly as AI-driven tools reshape content creation globally.
Design sector gets Institutional Backing
- To strengthen India’s design capabilities, the budget announced the setting up of a new National Institute of Design (NID) in eastern India through the Challenge route. The institute is expected to focus on industrial design, digital design and creative problem-solving, supporting manufacturing, services and cultural industries alike.
- The move reflects the government’s push to embed design thinking across sectors, including consumer products, digital services and cultural exports.
Sports Economy & Talent Development
- The budget also reinforced its commitment to the Khelo India Mission, positioning sports as both a social and economic driver. Measures include an integrated talent development pathway, systematic coach development, and deeper integration of sports science and technology, alongside continued investment in sports infrastructure.
- The government views sports as a contributor to employment, tourism and global branding, particularly as India aims to host more international sporting events and improve performance at global competitions.
Culture, Tourism & Experiential Economy
- Cultural and experiential industries also featured prominently. The budget proposed developing 15 archaeological sites into vibrant, experiential cultural destinations, aimed at boosting heritage tourism and local creative livelihoods.
- In addition, a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will digitally document places of significance, supporting content creation, storytelling and virtual tourism. A pilot scheme to upskill 10,000 tourist guides across 20 iconic sites is expected to improve visitor experiences while creating skilled service jobs.
- India will also host the Global Big Cat Summit, reinforcing its role in conservation-linked tourism and cultural diplomacy.
Where India stands and the road ahead
India’s Orange Economy remains smaller than those of advanced economies, but policymakers see strong growth potential due to the country’s large youth population, expanding digital infrastructure and global demand for creative content.
The budget’s emphasis on early skilling, institutional support and integration of culture with technology signals a long-term approach rather than short-term spending. While no standalone allocation figure was announced for the Orange Economy, officials indicated that the sector would benefit from cross-cutting investments in education, digital infrastructure, tourism and services. As global competition for creative talent intensifies, India is betting that its cultural depth and digital scale can turn the Orange Economy into a durable growth engine over the coming decades.