The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, August 5, 2025:In a significant move to strengthen Centre-State collaboration in public communication and promote India’s burgeoning creative economy, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) hosted a high-level Conference of State and Union Territory Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Secretaries at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was chaired by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan and attended by I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju and senior officials.
The conference emphasized the nationwide adoption of two key digital platforms—the revamped India Cine Hub and the Press Sewa Portal—to streamline film permissions, support content creation, and enhance transparency in media registration processes.
Dr. L. Murugan highlighted the transformation of the India Cine Hub into a unified single-window system for filmmakers. The platform integrates GIS-based location mapping, resource databases, and a common application form to facilitate permissions and incentives from both Central and State levels.
Seven States and two UTs have already fully integrated, with 21 other States and six UTs onboarded. This system reflects India’s film-friendly policies and ease of doing business initiatives under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Minister also emphasized the government’s push for grassroots cinema infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas such as Tier-3 and Tier-4 towns. Proposals include low-cost, modular, and mobile cinema models that can empower women, local communities, and youth through storytelling and cultural outreach.
The Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) was also highlighted for training youth in animation, gaming, music, and content creation—further fueling India’s “creator economy.”
The Press Sewa Portal, developed under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act), 2023, offers a digital single-window for registering periodicals and ensuring regulatory compliance. States were urged to notify designated authorities to ensure full implementation, enabling smoother publication processes and strengthening transparency.
I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju underscored the importance of empowering district-level I&PR structures, integrating vernacular media, and promoting local content creators. He flagged issues arising from disjointed responsibilities in State media departments and called for structural reforms.
He also encouraged States to use existing cultural and sports infrastructure to grow India’s live entertainment economy. Integrating event permissions into the India Cine Hub, appointing nodal officers, and offering fiscal incentives were part of the broader roadmap.
States and UTs were encouraged to showcase regional talent and locations at prestigious platforms like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and WAVES Summit. The 55th IFFI witnessed participation from 114 countries, while the WAVES Bazaar hosted over 2,000 global delegates. States were urged to set up pavilions, facilitate Indian Panorama entries, and nominate creative talent for global exposure.
This strategic conference marked a key step in aligning States with national initiatives to simplify filmmaking, bolster local cinema infrastructure, and harness the power of India’s creative and media economy. The government reaffirmed its commitment to a digitally empowered, culturally vibrant society through collaborative governance and targeted media reforms.
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