State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 21 Jul 2025

India’s First IICT Inaugurated in Mumbai

Why in News? 

India's first Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), modeled on IITs and IIMs, was inaugurated in Mumbai by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), with another campus under construction at Film City, Goregaon. 

• It was launched in parallel with the outcome report of WAVES 2025, attended by over 1 lakh visitors from 100+ countries. 

Key Points 

About IICT 

• About: The institute is a national centre of excellence for the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) sector. 
• Institutional Infrastructure and Launch: Inaugurated at the National Films Development Corporation (NFDC) premises on Pedder Road, Mumbai. 
  • Designed as a state-of-the-art campus with media labs, animation training zones, and post-production suites. 
  • First academic session starts September 2025 with 300 students. 
• Industry Collaboration & Curriculum: Partnerships with Google, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Apple, Adobe, YouTube, WPP, JioStar for: 
  • Curriculum design 
  • Internships and placements 
  • Startup incubation 
  • Scholarship programs 
  • MoU signed with University of York (UK) for global certification and faculty exchange. 
• Vision and Funding: Part of Prime Minister’s vision for a global creative economy under Digital India. 
  • ₹400 crore allocated by the Centre for campus construction. 
  • Additional ₹150 crore fund by Maharashtra Government to promote WAVES & creative economy. 
• Significance for India: The global AVGC-XR market is projected to grow at 10–15% CAGR; IICT aims to tap into this opportunity. 
  • It is projected to become a tourist attraction and cultural landmark in Mumbai. 
  • Supports India's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India missions by creating a skilled workforce for future digital jobs. 
  • Positions India as a hub for immersive tech and content creation, reducing dependency on foreign-trained talent. 
  • Elevates Mumbai’s status as a creative capital, with future IICT campuses planned across India. 

About WAVES 2025 Summit 

• It was a global summit for the media and entertainment (M&E) industry, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.   
  • It aims to promote dialogue, innovation, and collaboration across the media and entertainment (M&E) sector, boosting India's role as a global hub for digital content and innovation.  
  • Bharat Pavilion, a museum on the visual history and legacy of India's entertainment industry, was also inaugurated at Gulshan Mahal on the same premises as IICT.  
    • The Bharat Pavilion will feature four immersive storytelling zones — Shruti, Kriti, Drishti, and Creator’s Leap — under the theme “Kala to Code”.  
    • These zones celebrate India's transition from traditional arts to digital creativity and global cultural engagement.