In a visionary move to position Maharashtra as a global hub for the entertainment and technology sectors, the state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) Policy 2025 on Tuesday. With a roadmap extending to 2050, the policy projects an ambitious Rs 50,000 crore in investments and the creation of two lakh high-tech jobs, transforming Mumbai into the epicenter of India’s burgeoning media and entertainment industry.
The AVGC-XR Policy, backed by an estimated outlay of Rs 3,268 crore, introduces a slew of initiatives to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Dedicated AVGC-XR parks equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure—such as motion-capture studios, rendering farms, and virtual production labs—will be established across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, Satara, and Nagpur. These hubs will leverage AI-based animation, real-time rendering, immersive technologies, and metaverse applications, positioning Maharashtra at the forefront of global technological advancements.
Maharashtra already boasts 295 AVGC-XR studios, accounting for 30% of India’s total, and 20 educational institutes in Mumbai and Pune offering specialized training in animation, VFX, and gaming. The policy builds on this foundation, granting the sector industry and infrastructure status, with 60% of land in Integrated Industrial Areas and IT parks reserved for AVGC-XR initiatives. The remaining 40% will support residential, institutional, and recreational facilities, with additional Floor Space Index (FSI) benefits under the IT & ITeS Policy 2023.
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The policy aligns with India’s broader Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry, projected to grow from USD 27 billion to USD 100 billion by 2030, creating over 30 lakh direct and 51.5 lakh indirect jobs. Maharashtra’s Economic Advisory Council emphasized the sector’s potential in its vision for a USD 1 trillion state economy, a goal reinforced by the recent World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai, where MoUs worth Rs 8,000 crore were signed.
To drive growth, the state has allocated Rs 308 crore for 2025-30 and Rs 2,960 crore for 2031-50, with an additional Rs 100 crore for 2025-26. A Rs 200-crore WAVES Participation Fund and a Rs 300-crore start-up fund will empower local entrepreneurs, fostering intellectual property creation and innovation. The policy’s applications extend beyond entertainment, impacting healthcare (medical simulations), education, marketing, defense, agriculture, and real estate through advanced technologies like 3D modeling and virtual tours.
By establishing Maharashtra as a global AVGC-XR destination, the policy not only promises economic growth but also aims to redefine the state’s role in the digital era. With its forward-thinking approach, Maharashtra is poised to lead India’s charge toward a tech-driven, creative future, cementing its status as a powerhouse of innovation and opportunity.
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