Education
SIDBI releases inaugural MSME Outlook Survey
MUMBAI: If you want to know what’s really happening in India’s bustling micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, SIDBI has just made life easier. The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has released the inaugural edition of its MSME Outlook Survey, a quarterly report that takes the pulse of India’s MSMEs, delivering valuable insights into their performance, expectations, and market sentiment.
The survey, covering manufacturing, services, and trading sectors, introduces two new indices—the MSME-Business Conditions Index (M-BCI) and the MSME-Business Expectations Index (M-BEI). These indices, ranging from 0 to 100, gauge market sentiment, with readings above 50 signalling optimism and those below 50 indicating caution.
The MSME sector seems to be on an upward trajectory, with the latest survey painting a positive picture:
. Business conditions are improving, with manufacturing leading at 60.33 M-BCI, followed closely by services at 59.67.
. Optimism is high for the future, with M-BEI projections exceeding 60, while manufacturing alone soars past 70.
. Sales growth, profitability, and production outlooks remain bullish, with order books filling up fast.
. Manufacturers expect rising input costs but anticipate higher profitability due to increased production and selling prices.
.15 per cent of MSMEs foresee improvements in skilled labour availability and infrastructure, including electricity supply and permit processing.
. Employment levels remain stable, but 30-40 per cent of respondents plan to expand their workforce soon.
. Digital marketing, environmental protection, and technology adoption are gaining traction, as MSMEs embrace modern business strategies.
Commenting on the survey launch, SIDBI chairman & managing director Manoj Mittal emphasised the importance of MSMEs in shaping the economy, “MSMEs are the backbone of the Indian economy and a vital driver of socio-economic change. This survey will provide stakeholders with valuable insights, enabling them to evaluate the current business climate and fine-tune their strategies.”
The full report is available at www.sidbi.in.
Education
Govt to set up creator labs in 15,000 schools to boost AVGC sector
Budget boost and WAVES initiatives aim to scale India’s creator economy
NEW DELHI: The government is doubling down on India’s so-called orange economy, rolling out an ambitious plan to expand content creation infrastructure and skill development across the country.
At the heart of the push is a proposal to set up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, backed by an allocation of Rs 250 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27. The move is aimed at nurturing talent early and building a pipeline for the fast-growing animation, visual effects, gaming and comics sector.
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies has been designated as the nodal agency to steer this rollout. Operating from the campus of National Film Development Corporation in Mumbai, the institute has already launched 18 courses, with over 130 students enrolled and a trainer network beginning to take shape.
The broader ecosystem push is rooted in recommendations by the AVGC Promotion Task Force, which estimates that the sector could require around two million skilled professionals by 2030. The government is now working to align training, infrastructure and policy to meet that demand.
Flagship platforms such as WAVES 2025 are playing a central role in this strategy. The summit brought together creators, investors and global industry leaders, while initiatives like the WaveX Startup Accelerator Programme are helping startups scale through mentorship, funding access and international exposure.
The Create in India Challenge has also emerged as a key talent pipeline. Its first edition saw 33 challenges and participation from over one lakh creators, including many from smaller cities, signalling a democratisation of content creation across India.
Sharing details in Parliament, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state L Murugan outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach in response to queries raised by Kriti Devi Debbarman and Eatala Rajender.
With policy, funding and platforms now aligning, India’s creator economy is getting a structured push. The message is clear. From classrooms to global screens, the next wave of storytellers is being built at scale.
