Movies
Centre bets on IICT, Cine Hub and WAVES to boost Mumbai’s media ecosystem
Government says no city-specific assessment conducted despite Mumbai’s leadership in media
New Delhi: Mumbai may be India’s entertainment capital, but the Centre has said it has not carried out any city-specific assessment of the metropolis’ contribution to the country’s media and entertainment industry.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs L. Murugan said Mumbai continues to be the country’s leading hub for film, television, broadcasting, digital media and content creation, making a significant contribution to the growth of India’s media and entertainment sector.
However, the minister clarified that the Ministry has not undertaken an assessment exclusively focused on Mumbai. He also noted that permissions for downlinking private satellite television channels are granted on a pan-India basis under existing policy guidelines.
The government highlighted several national initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s media and entertainment ecosystem, many of which benefit stakeholders based in Mumbai.
Among them is the Development Communication and Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) Central Sector Scheme, which supports Indian cinema through initiatives including the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Indian Film Promotion, Film Production, Domestic Film Festivals and the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM).
The Ministry also pointed to India Cine Hub (ICH), a single-window digital platform for filming permissions, which is designed to simplify approvals for filmmakers.
Another key initiative is the establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) in Mumbai as the National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR, aimed at strengthening capabilities in animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality technologies.
The government said it is also promoting the sector through audio-visual co-production agreements and the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), which are intended to attract investment, encourage content creation, generate employment and advance technological innovation as part of India’s broader “orange economy” strategy.
On industry feedback, the Ministry said it regularly engages with stakeholders and receives suggestions on modern media infrastructure, ease of filming, single-window facilitation and promoting international film production. These recommendations are considered while refining policy and improving facilitation mechanisms.
The government added that it continues to support the sector through global collaborations, promotion of Indian cinema at international film festivals and film markets, broadcasting reforms and skill development in emerging creative technologies.
While no Mumbai-specific policy package was announced, the Centre said its nationwide initiatives are intended to reinforce the city’s position as India’s premier media and entertainment hub while strengthening the country’s global competitiveness in the creative industries.
