Union Budget 2026: 20 Lakh Skilled Professionals Needed in the AVGC Sector by 2030

With the 2026 Union Budget, Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman has indicated that India’s creative economy is more than simply entertainment; It is a growing economic contributor and major source of employment for the country’s youth. One of the largest announcements in this budget includes the government’s promise for commitment to the growing Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sectors, acknowledging that India will need 2 million professionals by 2030 to fill the growing demand.

All thanks to the rise in:

• Digital consumption
• Global outsourcing
• And immersive technology

With all these above written factors, India’s AVGC sector is growing quickly. Indian creative and technology professionals are no longer just working on international projects, they are now creating and distributing original content, stories, characters, and games to millions of users worldwide. According to the government, this sector is a growing field and is expected to need 2 million skilled professionals by 2030; this is a really a staggering opportunity for all the aspiring professionals.

Union Budget 2026 Pushed “The Orange Economy”

Well, term orange economy is itself modern. So, those who do not know what exactly orange economy is… for them…

“Orange Economy” is the term which is used to describe industries which is driven by creativity, culture, design as well as intellectual property. And in the Union Budget 2026, the major focus was on this so called “orange economy”.

Now coming back to the point of our discussion…

The Finance Minister, honourable Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the importance of this theme during her budget speech which officially included AVGC sector under India’s future growth plans.

In her speech, Nirmala Sitharaman said that “the AVGC sector is expanding rapidly and will require around two million professionals by 2030.”

Along with this, she also spoke about a very important step to improve skill development in the AVGC sector. The government has proposed to set up AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across India. The main idea behind this move is simple. Students should not wait until graduation to understand creative technology. They should get exposure from an early stage.

With strong vision and foresight, Red Apple Learning, in collaboration with Scope, has already taken similar steps. We have partnered with more than 25+ schools and colleges to build Scope Innovation Labs. These labs are designed to introduce students to the world of digital creativity at the right time, when their curiosity and imagination are at their peak.

Through these labs, young learners get hands on exposure to digital tools, creative software and technical platforms that are directly connected to industry requirements. Instead of only reading from textbooks, students actually learn by doing. They explore:

• Animation basics
• Design concepts
• Storytelling methods
• And even the fundamentals of game creation

The thing which we all know that traditional learning often focuses only on theory, but industries today demand practical knowledge and creative thinking. These labs help bridge that gap. They encourage students to:

• Think creatively
• Solve problems
• Understand design logic
• And become comfortable with modern animation and game development tools

Most importantly, these labs do not just create interest. They build a strong foundation.

20 lakh skilled workers by 2030…

One of the biggest challenges which the AVGC industry has faced for years the shortage of trained professionals. Despite strong demand from studios, agencies as well as gaming companies and digital platforms, India still struggles to produce enough trained professionals to fill available roles.

By projecting a requirement of nearly 20 lakh skilled workers by 2030, the government is also  acknowledging the fact that India must build a large workforce who will be capable of competing on both global as well as domestic stages. Whether in:

• Animation pipelines
• VFX production
• Game design
• UI/UX creativity
• Or comic storytelling

the need for professionals who are trained and job-ready is essential for sustained growth.  So, for a beginner who wants get into the industry, it is a great chance, to learn from a reputed institute and start their professional journey in this highly prosperous industry.

How Can a Beginner Start Their Journey?

Many students feel really excited about the AVGC industry but also confused about where to begin. The first step for you is to understand your interest. Once you identify that, it becomes much easier for you to choose the right learning path.

Beginners can start their journey with the assistance of professional courses that are structured and industry focused. Red Apple Learning’s professional courses helps students to learn and get into the industry as a skilled professional. And right after their course completion you will directly get placed.

At Red Apple Learning, beginners are guided from the basics to advanced levels with proper support and career counseling. The focus is not only on teaching software but making you jack of all trades. With the right training, dedication and continuous practice, even a complete beginner can confidently step into the fast growing AVGC industry.