
India Begins Counting Its Creative Economy
What Happened?
India is now officially recognizing its creative economy, which includes sectors like social media and gaming. The government aims to create a more inclusive framework for this sector.
Key points
- India's statistics ministry has updated its classification to include creative sectors.
- The Union Budget 2026 emphasizes the creative economy as a key growth area.
- India's creative services exports were valued at approximately $102 billion in 2024.
- The UN's data on India's creative economy lacks detailed breakdowns.
- A significant portion of India's creative workforce operates informally and may not be captured in current statistics.
- Three key choices will shape the future framework for India's creative economy.
Key insights
- A more detailed breakdown of the creative economy could lead to targeted policies.
- Improved data collection methods are essential for capturing informal workers.
- The success of the creative economy framework will depend on its inclusivity.
Why it matters
The recognition of the creative economy could lead to better support and policies for informal workers.
Source
India Today

