News Brief
Maharashtra Clears Rs 3,268 Crore Animation, Gaming And Extended Reality Policy 2025, Eyes 2 lakh Jobs And Rs 50,000 Crore Investment
An Extended Reality Set
The Maharashtra cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) Policy 2025.
The cabinet meeting endorsed a long-term plan extending until 2050, with an allocation of around Rs 3,268 crore, aiming to transform the state into a hub for digital creativity and innovation.
The policy grants AVGC-XR the status of both an industry and an infrastructure sector, marking what officials describe as a decisive step towards positioning Mumbai as the epicentre of India’s entertainment and tourism industries.
Over the next two decades, the policy is expected to attract investments worth Rs 50,000 crore and create nearly 2 lakh high-tech jobs.
Maharashtra already leads the country in this space, hosting more than 295 studios, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of India’s total and 20 specialised educational institutions in Mumbai and Pune.
The state had earlier identified AVGC-XR as an emerging industry under the IT & ITES Policy 2023. Its applications extend beyond entertainment, spanning healthcare, defence, education, agriculture, marketing, and real estate.
These hubs will offer cutting-edge facilities including motion capture studios, virtual production units, AI-driven animation tools, rendering farms, and immersive metaverse applications.
Sixty per cent of land in Integrated Industrial Areas and IT Parks will be reserved for AVGC-XR, while the remainder will accommodate residential, institutional, and recreational infrastructure.
A total of Rs 308 crore has been earmarked for the first five years (2025–2030), followed by Rs 2,960 crore until 2050. Additionally, Rs 100 crore will be released in 2025–26, with special funds of Rs 200 crore through WAVES participation and Rs 300 crore to back local startups.
Maharashtra’s AVGC-XR Skill Advisory Committee will ensure a steady talent pipeline by bringing together industry leaders, academia, and associations to guide training and innovation.
