iWorld
Centre targets global live events hub status for India by 2030
LEDC pushes single-window approvals as 29 States and UTs appoint event nodal officers
MUMBAI: India is getting ready to turn up the volume on live entertainment. The Centre is working to position the country as a global hub for live events by 2030, with a government-led push to make event approvals faster, venues easier to access and the business of putting on a show less cumbersome.
The Live Events Development Cell (LEDC), established in July 2025, is driving the initiative, with the government viewing the sector as a potential engine for economic growth, employment, tourism and cultural promotion.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr L. Murugan said the LEDC is chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and includes representatives from Central ministries, State governments and industry bodies.
The cell has held four meetings so far and has focused on reducing some of the regulatory friction that event organisers face.
A key move has been the introduction of an online single-window clearance system for live events through the India Cine Hub (ICH) portal. Organisers can use the platform to apply for permissions, make payments, track applications in real time and complete inspections digitally.
The system has also begun building a common administrative network, with 29 States and Union Territories appointing nodal officers for live event permissions through the portal.
The LEDC has separately prepared a Model Executive Order for Streamlining Licensing and Permissions for Live Events in India, 2026, and circulated it to all States and Union Territories. So far, three States or UTs have implemented the model order.
The government’s push is not limited to paperwork. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has prepared a standard operating procedure for live events at protected monuments and identified 224 heritage sites where such events can be organised.
The government has also circulated a concept note for a Greenfield Venue Development Policy, while a skilling committee has been established to address talent requirements in the sector.
On the training front, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, working with the Media and Entertainment Skills Council and the Event and Entertainment Management Association, is developing certificate and short-term courses focused on the live events industry.
The LEDC has also flagged several issues to relevant ministries, including visas for visiting artists and crews, music licensing, access to sports and heritage venues, permissions for events beyond 10 pm, taxation and access to finance.
One regulatory change has already followed the cell’s recommendations. The Reserve Bank of India has removed the requirement for a bank guarantee on advance remittances of $500,000 and above for the import of services under the Foreign Exchange Management Regulations, 2026.
The revised regulations are scheduled to take effect from 1 October 2026.
Taken together, the measures point to an attempt to build the infrastructure around India’s expanding live entertainment economy rather than simply add more events to the calendar. The bigger challenge will be ensuring that the single-window approach, model licensing framework and venue reforms work consistently across States.
For a sector where a concert, festival or sporting spectacle can involve a maze of permissions before the first light comes on, the Centre’s ambition is clear: make organising the show almost as smooth as watching it.
