Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Senthil Rajan, has said that India’s media and entertainment industry must look beyond the domestic market and develop original intellectual property capable of achieving global success. Addressing the 13th CII BIG Picture Summit 2026 in Mumbai, Mr Rajan emphasised the need for industry-led investment, technological innovation, skill development and supportive government policies to accelerate the sector’s growth. He urged content creators, producers and distributors to target international audiences beyond the Indian diaspora. He also highlighted government initiatives to streamline film permissions through single-window mechanisms.
Mr Rajan said the government was working with industry stakeholders, including the Confederation of Indian Industry, to strengthen skill development and address the shortage of trained professionals in animation, visual effects, gaming and emerging technologies. He also highlighted the role of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, which has begun operations at a temporary campus in Mumbai. The institute aims to develop industry-ready talent through advanced facilities for virtual reality, extended reality, production and gaming.
IICT Chief Executive Officer Dr Vishhwas Deoskar stressed the need for India to move beyond a service-oriented approach and focus on innovation, original intellectual property and product development. He said this would help strengthen India’s position in the global creative and technology ecosystem.
The summit session explored growth opportunities across films, streaming, television, live events, animation, visual effects, gaming and comics. Discussions also focused on the role of artificial intelligence and regulatory reforms in enhancing the global competitiveness of India’s media and entertainment industry.
