Govt, TRAI drive policy push to make India a global media & entertainment hub

The government is stepping up efforts to make India a global content production hub, with the information and broadcasting ministry (MIB) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) working in tandem to create a supportive policy and regulatory environment for the country’s fast-evolving media and entertainment (M&E) sector.

The MIB regulates broadcasting and over-the-top (OTT) content, while TRAI oversees TV channel tariffs. Both agencies are coordinating to ensure balanced growth across traditional and digital media platforms.

The ministry is focusing on key growth drivers such as the animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality (AVGC-XR) sector, content exports, the live events economy, and stronger safeguards for intellectual property. TRAI, on its part, is seeking to build a fair, competitive and innovation-friendly broadcasting ecosystem.

“We are witnessing a golden age for Indian creativity. We must convert India into a global production hub, from animation and gaming to Hollywood collaborations,” said Sanjay Jaju, secretary, information and broadcasting ministry, at FICCI Frames on Tuesday. He said the AVGC-XR segment, expanding at nearly 30% annually, represents the next major frontier of the creative economy.

Without divulging details, Jaju said the ministry is also introducing reforms in the direct-to-home (DTH) sector as part of a broader strategy to ease challenges facing the broadcasting industry, which has been disrupted by technological changes.

He added that the government is intensifying its crackdown on content piracy through specialised working groups involving the Motion Picture Association and the Producers Guild of India. “Intellectual property lies at the core of the creative process, and it is essential that creators are able to monetise their work. Piracy also has implications for national security and money laundering,” he said.Jaju highlighted that the M&E industry employs about eight million people directly and millions more indirectly across film, television, digital and live events. “This sector has immense potential, but growth must come with responsibility. The industry shapes minds and influences opinions, and it must balance expansion with accountability,” he said.The ministry is also looking to double India’s concert economy, which has seen Indian performers such as Arijit Singh and Diljit Dosanjh draw global audiences. “The concert ecosystem has a huge impact on the economy and we are easing the process to organise concerts in the country,” Jaju said.

TRAI chairman A K Lahoti said the regulator’s focus is on ensuring the broadcasting and OTT sectors remain competitive and inclusive amid rapid technological change. “OTT platforms have crossed 600 million users while linear TV continues to be important for home entertainment, reaching 190 million homes,” he said.

“The key is to strike the right balance between innovation and regulation so that the broadcasting ecosystem remains responsive to emerging technologies and audience needs,” he added.

Lahoti said TRAI sees its role as an enabler of orderly industry growth. “Policy and regulation must facilitate innovation so that the industry can reap the benefits of technology and offer better service options to consumers,” he said. “At the same time, we are conscious of protecting the interests of smaller players from unfair or anti-competitive practices and ensuring that consumers get a fair and transparent deal.”

The regulator has submitted multiple recommendations to the government for streamlining policy frameworks and enhancing ease of doing business in the sector.

Jaju said that with content from India now reaching more than 200 countries, dubbed and subtitled in multiple languages, the country’s stories are strengthening its global influence. “Our creative economy is not just about making money. It is about creating mind space and ensuring that India’s stories continue to inspire the world,” he said.