Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday inaugurated the Mumbai campus of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT).
The new campus, located at the NFDC Films Division Complex on Pedder Road, will begin academic sessions in September. Around 300 students are expected in the first batch. The campus features classrooms, media labs, post-production suites, and specialised facilities for animation, VFX, and extended reality (XR).
Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw said the government is focused on empowering youth and expanding opportunities in creative sectors. “This is a big achievement. It will open new opportunities for the youth of our country,” he said.
Vaishnav added that the central government has allocated ₹400 crore for the development of IICT. The institute will offer 17 specialised courses and has already partnered with global technology leaders like Google, Meta, and Adobe for hands-on training and industry exposure.
Fadnavis termed the event a “moment that is now transforming into a movement”, adding that the institute will serve as both an academic and cultural landmark. “Just as WAVES revolutionised the creator economy, IICT stands as a testament to all that hard work,” he said.
Also present were Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra’s Minister of Cultural Affairs.
The IICT will offer advanced programs in integrated media post-production, animation, VFX, XR, and related domains. Officials said the institute will bring academic training, industry collaboration, and state-of-the-art infrastructure under one roof.
The move comes as India looks to institutionalise its AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) sector, which is expected to play a growing role in the global digital economy.