The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR), designed to foster India’s growing animation ecosystem. Modeled on the lines of IITs and IIMs, the NCoE will be set up in Mumbai under the Companies Act, 2013, to position India as a global content hub and enhance its soft power.
The initiative aims to attract foreign investment in India’s media and entertainment sectors, with industry bodies such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) partnering with the government in setting up the center.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the AVGC-XR sector’s crucial role in media, entertainment, gaming, education, health, and other areas, contributing to India’s growth. He highlighted the rapid evolution of technology and internet penetration in the country, noting that the NCoE will act as a driving force to anchor the AVGC-XR ecosystem.
In addition to specialized training programs to equip professionals with cutting-edge AVGC-XR skills, the NCoE will promote research, development, and collaboration across fields like computer science, engineering, design, and art. The center will also focus on creating intellectual property (IP) based on India’s cultural heritage and provide resources for startups in the AVGC-XR field.
Vaishnaw underscored that the NCoE would be a major source of employment for youth, giving a significant boost to the creative arts and design sector, and furthering the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
