Media, entertainment & AVGC industry in India — hubs, licences, schemes, merits and demerits

§1How big it is

India's media and entertainment sector is estimated at Rs 2,502 billion in 2024, projected to reach Rs 3,067 billion by 2027 (around 7% a year); digital media is the largest segment at Rs 802 billion in 2024
PIB backgrounder: Creative Industries as Growth Engines - Media, Entertainment, AVGC, Gaming and the Orange Economy (16 Feb 2026)
2024 segment sizes: TV Rs 679 bn, print Rs 260 bn, online gaming Rs 232 bn, filmed entertainment Rs 187 bn, animation & VFX Rs 103 bn, live events Rs 101 bn
PIB backgrounder: Creative Industries as Growth Engines - Media, Entertainment, AVGC, Gaming and the Orange Economy (16 Feb 2026)
The sector supports over 10 million livelihoods, directly and indirectly; AVGC-XR projected to create nearly 20 lakh direct and indirect jobs over the next decade
PIB backgrounder: Creative Industries as Growth Engines - Media, Entertainment, AVGC, Gaming and the Orange Economy (16 Feb 2026)

Mumbai (film, TV, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies), Hyderabad (Ramoji, VFX), Chennai, Bengaluru (animation/gaming), Kolkata - well-known

CBFC certificate for theatrical release
MIB registration for TV channels / uplinking; Press Registrar (PRGI) for periodicals
Copyright registration and music/performance licences (IPRS/PPL) for using music
Police and local permissions for live events; FSSAI if serving food at events
Udyam Registration (MSME) - free, online, PAN + Aadhaar based
GST registration (mandatory above turnover threshold or for inter-state supply / e-commerce sale)
Shops & Establishment registration or Factory Licence (Factories Act / state rules) depending on size and power use
Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board - category (Red/Orange/Green/White) as per CPCB 2025 harmonised list; White category is exempt from consent
IEC (Importer Exporter Code) from DGFT if you import or export

AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges via IICT Mumbai (Union Budget 2026-27) [PIB Feb 2026]
WAVES, WaveX incubation, WAVES Bazaar rights marketplace and Create in India Challenge [PIB Feb 2026]
Film shooting incentives for foreign productions (Invest India / MIB) - current terms not checked
Cross-sector schemes that also apply (detailed in the programmes file): Udyam benefits, PMEGP, PM Mudra Yojana, CGTMSE credit guarantee, Stand-Up India, MSE-CDP (cluster development), RAMP, MSME ZED and Lean certification, MSME Champions, TReDS, Startup India (SISFS seed fund, Fund of Funds, CGSS), RoDTEP, EPCG, Advance Authorisation, Districts as Export Hubs, ODOP (One District One Product)