CII Unveils Visionary Policy Roadmap for India’s Media & Entertainment Sector at CII Big Picture Summit 2025

Mumbai, December 1 The major recommendations in this White Paper, titled “Reimagining India’s M&E Sector: A Call for Action to Build a Future-Ready, Globally Competitive Industry by 2030,” represent not just a policy wish-list, but a blueprint for action—calling for unified regulation, digital-first innovation, robust infrastructure, industry-aligned skills, and world-class IP protection.

 

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has unveiled its landmark White Paper, “Reimagining India’s M&E Sector: A Call for Action to Build a Future-Ready, Globally Competitive Industry by 2030,” outlining a bold vision and actionable roadmap for transforming India’s Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector. The White Paper was officially released on December 1, 2025, at the 12th CII Big Picture Summit, held over two days—December 1 and 2—in Mumbai.

 

This year’s summit, themed “The AI Era – Bridging Creativity and Commerce,” convened leading figures from government, industry, and the creative community. The unveiling took place during the inaugural session, setting the stage for two days of high-level dialogue and collaboration focused on harnessing artificial intelligence, advancing regulatory reform, and driving strategic investment. This initiative aims to unlock the sector’s potential, foster inclusive growth, and position India as a global creative powerhouse.

 

Transformative Decade for India’s Creative Economy

 

With the global M&E industry poised to reach $3.5 trillion by 2029, India stands at the cusp of a transformative opportunity. The nation’s M&E sector is expected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 9.8%—outpacing the global average—and could reach $100 billion by 2030.

 

India has already laid essential groundwork—India Cine Hub, emerging AVGC hubs, a vibrant startup ecosystem, AI adoption, and global visibility of Indian creators. But structural bottlenecks—fragmented regulation, low screen density, limited infrastructure, skills gaps, and weak export pathways—continue to constrain growth.

 

CII’s White Paper, shaped by extensive industry consultation and global best practices, responds to the urgent need for strategic reforms, regulatory modernization, and ecosystem-wide collaboration.

 

Six Strategic Pillars for Reform

 

The White Paper articulates six pillars to drive the sector’s growth and global competitiveness:

 

Regulatory and Governance Reform:

 

1. Preserve OTT self-regulation and reform broadcasting.

2. Establish a Unified Media Regulator (UMR) to harmonize content rules across TV, OTT, and digital, ensuring “same content, same rules.”

3. Deregulate and modernize compliance frameworks to encourage innovation and reduce regulatory burden.

4. Launch a National Esports & Gaming Development Authority to streamline standards, incentives, and talent development for India’s fastest-growing creative sectors.

Access, Entrepreneurship, and Ease of Doing Business:

 

1. Implement a single-window digital portal for all permissions and approvals across production, distribution, and export, modeled on global best practices.

2. Strengthen anti-piracy enforcement with specialized cyber units and a blockchain-based content registry.

3. Standardize regulations and automate incentives and clearances to attract domestic and foreign investment.

Infrastructure and Technology:

 

1. Accelerate development of world-class film cities, studios, and post-production facilities through public-private partnerships.

2. Expand digital connectivity, public Wi-Fi, and next-generation content delivery networks, particularly in underserved regions.

3. Offer fiscal incentives for cinema screens in tier 2/3 cities and streamline licensing to democratize content access.

Export and Monetization:

 

1. Launch a central export fund and targeted cash rebates to boost global distribution of Indian content, films, gaming, and AVGC (Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics).

2. Facilitate international co-productions, marketing tie-ups, and IP transfers to amplify India’s soft power and export revenue.

3. Provide dedicated support for content localization and international market entry.

Talent and Skills:

 

1. Standardize and globally align media curricula, expanding training capacity to 10,000 annual seats and establishing 750 skilling centers nationwide.

2. Develop a unified education-to-employment platform and incentivize industry-led apprenticeships.

3. Enable international mobility for Indian creative professionals through global certification and partnership programs.

IP and Innovation:

 

1. Institute a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for original IP in media, gaming, and AVGC-XR.

2. Modernize copyright laws to address digital infringement and piracy, expand IP protection periods, and introduce robust blockchain registries.

3. Expand access to co-production financing, venture capital, and content-based lending to fuel entrepreneurial growth.

Government as a Catalyst

 

The report recognizes recent government initiatives—such as the operationalization of the National Center of Excellence (NCoE) for AVGC-XR, launch of the ‘Waves’ platform for industry collaboration, and regulatory reforms for cinema infrastructure—as pivotal. CII urges continued policy and fiscal support to sustain this momentum.

 

Urgent Call for a National Media & Entertainment Policy

 

Despite India’s creative dynamism, the sector lacks an integrated national policy. CII strongly advocates for the adoption of a National Media & Entertainment Policy—similar to telecom and IT sectors—to provide a unified vision, regulatory clarity, and a roadmap for innovation and convergence.

 

A Call to Action

 

CII calls upon the Government of India, State Governments, industry leaders, and creative communities to act with urgency and shared purpose. By embracing convergence, digital-first innovation, and global competitiveness, India can not only expand its domestic market but also project its cultural leadership worldwide.