• The Indian government will launch a $1 billion fund to support digital content creators, providing access to capital for skill enhancement and global expansion.
  • The announcement comes ahead of WAVES 2025, a media and entertainment summit aimed at strengthening India’s role in the global creator economy.

The Indian government is set to introduce a $1 billion fund aimed at supporting the creator economy, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced.

The initiative seeks to provide digital content creators with access to capital, enabling them to enhance their skills, improve production quality, and expand into global markets.

“A $1 billion fund will be created for the creator’s economy which will be basically for making sure that all our energetic creators, using the latest technologies today, will be able to get access to capital and hone their skills, upgrade their production levels and reach out to the global market,” Vaishnaw stated.

The announcement was made during a press briefing on the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, which is scheduled to take place in Mumbai from May 1 to 4. The summit, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is expected to serve as a platform for global collaboration in the media and entertainment sector.

India’s creator economy has been expanding rapidly, driven by increased internet penetration and rising disposable incomes. According to Inc42’s Indian Tech Startup Funding Report 2024, the number of online shoppers in the country has surpassed 294 million.

This shift has prompted brands across industries—such as beauty, fashion, electronics, and food—to partner with digital influencers and content creators to reach wider audiences.

Data from influencer intelligence platform Qoruz indicates that India has over 4 million influencers. A 2023 report by Meta found that a significant portion of Indian online shoppers discover beauty brands through social media. In response to this trend, major e-commerce platforms have launched initiatives to engage with digital creators. For instance, Amazon introduced ‘Creator University’ and ‘Creator Connect’ last year to support content-driven commerce.

The rapid growth of the creator economy has also gained recognition at the policy level. In December 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized its role in achieving India’s goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy. The Indian influencer market, valued at INR 2,344 crore in 2023, is projected to grow to INR 3,375 crore by 2026, according to an EY report.

To further support this sector, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR) last year. Additionally, global industry leaders have acknowledged India’s growing influence in the creator economy.

"India is the fastest-growing market for video-sharing platforms and is leading in many global trends," YouTube CEO Neal Mohan stated in an interview last year.

With the introduction of the $1 billion fund and continued policy support, the Indian government aims to strengthen the digital creator ecosystem, ensuring its sustained growth in the global market.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah