Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Launches Nationwide Plan to Set Up Content Creation Labs in 15,000 Schools and 500 Colleges

New Delhi | February 12, 2026- In a major step towards strengthening India’s creative economy, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) convened a national stakeholder workshop on Thursday at the National Media Centre, New Delhi, to roll out Content Creation Labs across 15,000 schools and 500 colleges nationwide.

The initiative, aligned with the government’s vision of the ‘Orange Economy’, aims to build a strong foundation for India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector by nurturing creative and technical talent at the grassroots level.

Addressing the gathering, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju said that the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT)—which received Cabinet approval last year and is now operational at the NFDC campus—will act as the central pillar of this nationwide programme. He explained that the proposed labs will operate as feeder centres, identifying and grooming young talent for advanced training at IICT.

According to officials, extensive deliberations have already taken place on the design, infrastructure, software requirements and operational models of these labs. While a common national framework is being developed, flexibility will be provided to institutions to adapt the labs based on local needs and capacities.

The consultation saw participation from senior officials of NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, along with members of IICT’s governing and academic bodies. Representatives from state governments, industry associations and academic institutions also contributed to the discussions.

Key Outcomes of the Workshop

• The Content Creation Labs will be equipped as professional-grade creative studios, enabling students to gain practical experience with industry-relevant tools and production workflows.
• Deliberations focused on integrating lab activities with the National Education Policy (NEP) to ensure early exposure as well as domain-specific skill development.
• Emphasis was laid on mentorship, original content development and intellectual property creation to boost employability and encourage creative startups.
• Participants underlined the need for close coordination between central initiatives and state education departments to ensure smooth implementation at scale.

The workshop concluded with a shared resolve to narrow the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations. By embedding creativity, technology and problem-solving skills into the education system, the initiative seeks to prepare India’s youth for emerging opportunities in the global digital and creative economy.