New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said: “India is witnessing unprecedented growth in the Orange Economy, that is, culture, content, and creativity.” He pointed out that India is emerging as a major global hub in areas such as media, film, gaming, music, digital content, and VR-XR.
The PM made the comments at a session of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi.
Earlier, at the inaugural WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai last year, PM Modi had said that promoting the Orange Economy was very important.
What does Orange Economy mean?
The Orange Economy denotes a creative revolution that India is well positioned to lead. This refers to the segment of the economy driven by content in which ideas, culture, and creativity are turned into goods and services with tangible economic value. The sector comprises music, film, fashion, digital content, gaming, design, arts, animation, media, advertising, as well as architecture, publishing, cultural tourism, and other creative industries. This creative economy stands on talent, culture, content, creativity and intellectual property.
PM Modi is backing this economy as India’s creative industries — spanning film, gaming, digital content, and music — are growing fast, generating jobs, drawing investment, and making a huge global impact.
How the Orange Economy is making huge strides under PM Modi
In his speeches and addresses, PM Modi has frequently pointed out that Orange Economy is not only culture, its capital as well. He views the Orange Economy as a vital growth driver that can help enhance exports, create jobs for the youth, and increase India’s footprint in the global economy.
Under Modi’s leadership, India’s creative economy has seen a giant leap, with sectors like film, music, digital content, gaming, arts, and design getting momentum through a slew of government initiatives. With help from these initiatives, India is now positioned in the global creative landscape and gaining international recognition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and others during the concluding session of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, in New Delhi. (PMO via PTI Photo)
In recent years, India’s OTT industry has grown 10X. The country is rapidly emerging as a global hub for film production, fashion, digital content, and gaming. With the $430 billion global animation market poised to double over the next 10 years, PM Modi wished to tap the immense potential in India’s animation and graphic design sectors. This has prompted the government to give these sectors a strong push.
India’s creative economy contributes over $30 billion to the GDP, and creates employment for more than 8% of the workforce. Creative exports touch over $11 billion every year. Platforms such as YouTube and digital design are helping creators from small towns and cities to connect with audiences across the globe.
Why the $1 billion creative economy fund holds the key?
The Modi government announced setting up of a $1 billion creative economy fund in March 2025. The fund is a public-private initiative to encourage digital creators with funding, skills, and global market access. A Rs 400-crore Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) is being established in Mumbai to arm the youth with creative and digital skills.
The fund is driving innovation in the Orange Economy. It is an initiative that is meant to support startups, boost infrastructure, and promote cultural exports. Government initiatives such as WAVES (World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit) India will also go a long way in giving boost to the Orange Economy.
PM Modi contends that the Orange Economy will emerge as the next major driver of sustainable and inclusive growth, enabling young creators and positioning India as a hub of creative industries.