Create in India Challenge Season 2 Invites Proposals for Creative Talent Initiatives
India’s creative economy is receiving a significant boost with the launch of the second season of the Create in India Challenge (CIC), a key initiative under the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES). The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has invited proposals from eligible organizations to design and host industry-led challenges to discover and nurture the country’s emerging creative talent.
This initiative plans to feature more than 50 youth-oriented and industry-focused challenges across a wide range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, digital media, extended reality, augmented reality, virtual reality, broadcasting, film, and music. The goal is to provide young creators and innovators with a platform where their ideas can evolve beyond competition and access real industry opportunities.
Eligible applicants include industry associations, organizations, companies, nonprofits, foundations, trusts, academic institutions, and startups. Selected organizations may receive a one-time government grant of up to ₹1 crore per challenge, making this initiative especially significant for institutions and industry players seeking to develop large-scale creative programs.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is soliciting these proposals as part of its efforts to strengthen India’s media and entertainment ecosystem and encourage homegrown talent. The challenges will focus on identifying, nurturing, upskilling, and showcasing creative talent from across the country.
Winners of the challenges will have the opportunity to be showcased at CreatoSphere, an event organized as part of WAVES. This exposure could provide participants with increased visibility among industry leaders, creators, and potential collaborators.
Interested and eligible entities must submit their proposals through the WAVES Bazaar portal by July 31, 2026. This deadline gives organizations and institutions a limited timeframe to develop and submit their challenge concepts.
With creative technology evolving rapidly, the Create in India Challenge Season 2 is set to unite young talent and industry expertise across multiple fields. The pressing question now is which new ideas, creators, and innovations will emerge from the challenges and take center stage at WAVES.
