The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday hosted a high-level conference with State and Union Territory Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Secretaries at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to strengthen Centre-State coordination in public communication and bolster India’s creative economy. Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan, Secretary Sanjay Jaju, and senior officials addressed the gathering, emphasizing the revamped India Cine Hub Portal, the Press Sewa Portal, and initiatives to promote low-cost cinemas in underserved regions.
Dr Murugan highlighted the India Cine Hub Portal, launched on June 28, 2024, as a single-window system streamlining filmmaking permissions, incentives, and resource mapping across India. With GIS-based location mapping and a common application form, the portal enhances ease of doing business and promotes India as a global filming destination under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Seven states and two Union Territories have fully integrated with the platform, while 21 states and six Union Territories have been onboarded.
The minister also underscored grassroots cinema initiatives, including low-cost theatres to empower women and local communities in Tier-3 and Tier-4 towns, rural areas, and aspirational districts. He highlighted the role of events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in showcasing India’s creative talent, with the 55th IFFI attracting participants from 114 countries and the WAVES Bazaar hosting over 2,000 industry delegates from 30 countries. Dr Murugan also spotlighted the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT), aimed at skilling youth in animation, gaming, music, and other creative fields to boost the creator economy.
I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju emphasized the importance of Centre-State collaboration in media development, urging states to integrate with the Press Sewa Portal, developed under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, for streamlined registration and compliance of periodicals. He flagged concerns over fragmented media responsibilities across states and called for empowering district-level I&PR setups to support digital creators and vernacular media. Jaju also advocated for expanding cinema infrastructure beyond metros through modular and mobile cinema models, using GIS mapping to identify low screen density zones, repurposing public infrastructure, and offering tax and land policy incentives.
The conference deliberated on leveraging IFFI and WAVES to promote regional filming locations, incentives, and talent, encouraging states to set up dedicated pavilions and nominate creators for global exposure. Discussions also covered developing India’s live entertainment economy by utilizing existing sports and cultural infrastructure, streamlining event permissions through the India Cine Hub, and establishing policy support for investments.