Initiatives for Orange Economy, National AI Skilling, MyWAVES 

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has launched three key initiatives aimed at boosting India’s Orange Economy. These include the National AI Skilling Initiative, MyWAVES platform, and the Advanced Electronic Program Guide (EPG) with in-built satellite tuners.

Initiatives for Orange Economy

The National AI Skilling Initiative will help creators build capabilities and achieve their goals in the evolving digital landscape. MyWAVES will support the creation of a vibrant digital ecosystem, enabling citizens to create, upload, and share content. Advanced Electronic Program Guide (EPG) with in-built satellite tuners, related to DD Free Dish, adds significant value by allowing citizens to access content without the need for a set-top box, thereby improving reach, especially in remote areas.

In essence, the first initiative will make people capable, the second will enable expansion of opportunities, and the third will ensure access to content for all.

National AI Skilling Initiative

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in partnership with Google and YouTube, has announced a national AI skilling initiative to train 15,000 participants from the creative and media sectors.
This initiative is being implemented through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT).
It aims to strengthen AI capabilities in areas such as animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC) and media technology.

The AI skilling programme will be conducted in two phases:

• Phase I (March-June 2026) focuses on foundational AI learning, including AI Essentials, Prompting, and Generative AI, delivered through Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud learning paths.
• Phase II (July-December 2026) will focus on advanced, hands-on and project-based specialization for the creative industry. The curriculum will include modules on the art of storytelling, YouTube best practices, and advanced training using AI tools such as Gemini 3, Nano Banana, Veo, and Vertex AI. The training will be conducted in major cities across the country.

The initiative will support creators, media professionals, students and developers in building future-ready skills and contribute to India’s emergence as a global hub for digital content and innovation.

MyWAVES 

MyWAVES, a feature of the WAVES OTT platform, empowers citizens to create, upload, and share content, transforming passive viewership into active participation.

• The platform supports short videos, episodic content, and multilingual formats, enabling creators from diverse regions to tell local stories while contributing to national initiatives like the Create in India Challenge.
• By providing a structured environment for user-generated content (UGC), MyWAVES fosters inclusive growth in India’s digital ecosystem, offering emerging creators a platform to reach audiences nationwide.

Advanced EPG and In-built Satellite Tuners

To enhance accessibility, television sets are now being introduced with in-built satellite tuners and advanced programme guides (EPG).

• This initiative allows viewers to access DD Free Dish channels directly, without the need for separate set-top boxes, reducing costs and simplifying television usage.
• The advanced programme guide provides an intuitive interface to browse channels and schedules, expanding the reach of public broadcasting, especially in remote and underserved areas.

Significance of Initiatives for Orange Economy

The launch of the National AI Skilling Initiative, MyWAVES, and advanced EPG with in-built tuners marks a significant step in unlocking India’s creative potential. 

• Creation of a Future-Ready Workforce: National AI Skilling Initiative  will equip youth with AI and digital production skills, enabling them to participate in high-growth sectors like AVGC and digital media. This enhances employability and global competitiveness of Indian talent.
• Democratisation of Content Creation: By providing an accessible platform for user-generated content, MyWAVES lowers entry barriers for creators, allowing individuals from small towns and rural areas to showcase their talent and monetize content, thereby promoting inclusive growth. 
• Affordable and Universal Access: By eliminating the need for additional hardware like set-top boxes, this initiative reduces costs and ensures wider access to television services, particularly benefiting economically weaker sections.
• Boost to Public Broadcasting: Enhanced accessibility to DD Free Dish strengthens public service broadcasting, ensuring dissemination of educational, cultural, and informational content across the country.
• Promotion of Cultural Diversity and Soft Power: The platform enables creators to present regional stories, languages, and traditions, thereby preserving cultural heritage and enhancing India’s global cultural influence.
• Economic Growth and Job Creation: Together, these initiatives support the expansion of the Orange Economy, leading to job creation, entrepreneurship, and increased contribution to GDP, especially in digital and creative sectors.

This aligns with the government’s vision of ‘Digital India’ and a vibrant creative economy, promoting both economic growth and cultural diversity. By integrating technology, skill development, and accessibility, the initiatives reflect a holistic approach to fostering a future-ready media and entertainment sector.

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About Orange Economy

Orange Economy refers to the creative economy that includes industries where value is generated primarily from creativity, culture, technology, and intellectual property. 
It includes media and entertainment, animation and visual effects, gaming, live cultural experiences, and digital content platforms that operate across borders at scale.

Globally the Orange economy contributes between 0.5 and over 7 percent of GDP, with live entertainment generating strong spillovers across tourism and urban services. Within this global transformation, India’s creative economy is emerging as a major pillar of growth, employment, and value creation. 

In India, the media and entertainment sector is projected to grow from USD 35.3 billion in 2025 to USD 47.2 billion by 2029. In Budget 2026-27, the government has proposed setting up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges to develop a skilled workforce of about 2 million professionals by 2030, strengthening India’s position in the global creative industry.