Digital
Game on India as govt eyes next level for digital entertainment
MUMBAI: India’s digital entertainment game is levelling up. quite literally. At Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit (DES) 2025, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, made it clear that gaming is no longer a side quest but a central pillar of India’s M&E economy.
“Gaming now forms a very important pillar and part of the overall digital media and entertainment landscape,” said Jaju, underscoring how convergence between tech, youth energy, and content is reshaping India’s global creative ambitions.
Citing Waves 2025 India’s flagship AV and entertainment summit, Jaju said the gaming pavilion, buzzing with emerging studios and new-age IPs, showed just how far the industry has come. From immersive platforms to evolving creator economies, Jaju spotlighted gaming, animation, audio streaming, and OTT as drivers of India’s new digital narrative.
To boost this transformation, the Ministry is launching the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai, operational from September 2025. The institute aims to become a breeding ground for talent and incubation hub for creative startups. “It will be a great place for people to hone their skills and for smaller companies to get incubated,” he said.
Jaju also called for:
. Investment in low-cost cinema halls to bring films to India’s hinterlands
. Strategic focus on making India a global production hub, leveraging cost advantages and local talent
. Nurturing digital innovation through AI, XR, and VR-led platforms
His three-part vision?
. Creative Excellence – Turning India into a storytelling powerhouse
. Digital Innovation – Leading in immersive tech
. Inclusive Growth – Tapping talent across every corner of India
As he urged the industry to walk and think together, Jaju wrapped with a rousing call: “Our time has come, and the future is now.”
With a booming gaming culture, homegrown creators, and government backing, India’s entertainment sector is set to not just entertain the world but lead it.
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Digital
Truecaller opens Business Chat platform to global partners and enterprises
Expansion aims to replace SMS with trusted, rich and conversational messaging
MUMBAI: Truecaller has expanded access to its Business Chat platform, opening it up to global channel partners and enterprise solution providers as it looks to reshape how businesses connect with customers.
The move allows partners worldwide to offer the platform to enterprise clients, enabling a shift away from traditional SMS towards a more interactive, verified and media-rich communication experience. The company is positioning this as a higher-trust alternative in an increasingly cluttered digital landscape.
With over 500 million active users globally, Truecaller is betting on its scale and daily engagement to give brands a more direct and credible way to reach consumers. The platform supports contextual conversations, real-time insights and engagement metrics, allowing businesses to fine-tune communication across the customer journey.
“The definition of success for modern enterprises has evolved. It’s no longer just about delivery but about earning attention and driving meaningful engagement,” said Truecaller global head, GTM Priyam Bose. He added that opening the platform to partners creates a gateway for brands to connect with users in a more trusted and action-oriented environment.
The expansion is already underway, with partners such as Gupshup and OneXtel live in India, while Globe Teleservices, Cloudcom and Sling Africa are driving adoption in international markets.
By equipping partners with data-driven tools and a conversational interface, Truecaller aims to help businesses cut through noise and build stronger customer relationships. The platform also promises a cleaner, more secure interaction layer, addressing long-standing concerns around spam and trust in business messaging.
As enterprises rethink customer engagement in a post-SMS world, Truecaller’s latest push signals a clear ambition to become a central player in conversational commerce.
