Policy Reform

India must adopt a cohesive, well-coordinated policy framework to transform its creative sector into a USD 100 billion economic powerhouse by 2030, according to the CII’s India’s M&E Sector Report, unveiled at the 12th CII Big Picture Summit 2025 in Mumbai. The report projects that such a unified policy push could significantly boost the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry’s GDP contribution while creating over five million new jobs. While the global M&E industry is expected to touch USD 3.5 trillion by 2029 with a 3.7% CAGR, India’s sector is poised for much stronger expansion at 9.8% CAGR, nearly 2.6 times the global rate. However, India still accounts for only 2% of the global media market, and its creative economy contributes merely 1% to the country’s GDP. To unlock full growth potential, the report calls for structural reforms, beginning with unified, modern regulation to replace the current fragmented, medium-specific laws that lead to inconsistent standards and compliance complexity. Such harmonisation, CII says, would support innovation, strengthen IP protection, and help India lead in fast-rising segments like gaming, streaming, and digital media. The report identifies infrastructure gaps as a major barrier to growth. Limited film studios, production facilities, and advanced tech infrastructure have led to capital flight and lost employment opportunities. CII recommends greater investment in top-tier production hubs, widespread 5G rollout, and technology integration to improve content creation and accessibility across India. Entrepreneurship challenges also need attention. The report advocates for a single-window digital clearance system, stronger anti-piracy enforcement, and simplified processes to improve business ease and attract global investments. Despite India’s rising global visibility in storytelling, the country’s media exports remain relatively low. CII suggests establishing dedicated export funds and streamlined export mechanisms to help Indian creators scale internationally and boost cultural impact. Talent shortages—particularly in animation, VFX, and digital media—pose another significant obstacle. The report recommends internationally aligned training standards and deeper collaboration between industry and academia to build a future-ready workforce. It concludes that a comprehensive National Media & Entertainment Policy, modeled on the National AVGC-XR Policy, could offer much-needed clarity and direction to navigate the industry’s rapid technological transformation. Source: ANI