Union minister of state for information & broadcasting and parliamentary affairs L Murugan unveiled five landmark reports at the ongoing WAVE Summit in Mumbai on Sunday, offering a comprehensive snapshot of India’s fast-growing media and entertainment sector.

The reports delve into critical facets of the industry, including the burgeoning creator economy, trends in content production, the regulatory and legal environment, the expanding live events segment, and data-driven frameworks to guide policy formulation. The findings are expected to inform both industry stakeholders and policymakers as the sector navigates rapid transformation and innovation.

Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment 2024-25
The Statistical Handbook, developed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, is a vital resource for data-driven policymaking and strategic industry planning. Designed to support informed decision-making, it offers in-depth insights into sectoral trends, audience behavior, revenue growth patterns, and both regional and national trajectories. By grounding future policies and strategies in empirical evidence and real-world dynamics, the handbook aims to ensure relevance, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability across the media and broadcasting ecosystem.

Highlights of the Handbook include:

Publications registered with PRGI: increased from 5,932 in 1957 to 154,523 in 2024–25, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.99%.

Books brought out by Publications Division: 130 books published in 2024–25 on themes such as children’s literature, history, freedom struggle, science, environment, and biographies.

Doordarshan Free Dish: Expanded from 33 channels in 2004 to 381 in 2025.

DTH Service: Achieved 100% geographical coverage by March 2025.

All India Radio (AIR): Now reaches 98% of India’s population (as of March 2025).

Number of AIR stations grew from 198 in 2000 to 591 in 2025.

Private Satellite TV Channels: Increased from 130 in 2004–05 to 908 in 2024–25.

Private FM stations rose from 4 in 2001 to 388 by 2024; the report provides a state-wise breakup as of March 31, 2025.

Community Radio Stations (CRS): Expanded from 15 in 2005 to 531 in 2025, with state/district/location-wise details included.

Film Certification: The number of Indian feature films certified grew from 741 in 1983 to 3,455 in 2024–25, with a cumulative total of 69,113 films certified by 2024–25.

Film Sector Developments: Includes data on awards, international film festivals, and documentaries produced by NFDC.

Digital Media and Creator Economy: Covers achievements under WAVES OTT, establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), and the Create in India Challenge (CIC).

Landmark Chronology: Features significant milestones in the Information and Broadcasting sector including the establishment of PRGI, Akashvani, Doordarshan, INSAT-based TV services, and private FM radio.

Skilling Initiatives: Information on training and capacity-building programmes under the Ministry.

Ease of Doing Business: Measures implemented to facilitate simplified and transparent processes for media and content creators.

BCG Report Maps the Rise of India's Creator Economy, Forecasts $1 Trillion Consumer Influence by 2030

The report "From Content to Commerce: Mapping India's Creator Economy", released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), underscores the transformative scale and influence of India’s digital creator ecosystem. With an estimated 2 to 2.5 million active digital creators, India now hosts one of the fastest-growing creator economies in the world.

Currently influencing over $350 billion in annual consumer spending, the report projects this figure could more than triple—surpassing $1 trillion by 2030. However, BCG emphasizes that the true impact of creators goes far beyond monetary metrics. It urges stakeholders to recognize creators as powerful storytellers, cultural influencers, and economic catalysts.

For businesses, this paradigm shift calls for moving beyond short-term, transactional influencer marketing toward building long-term, authentic partnerships—anchored in trust, creativity, and agility.

As per the report, ‘A Studio Called India’, by Ernst &Young  India not just as a content-consuming nation but as a studio to the world. It underlines India’s strengths — linguistic diversity, cultural richness, and a technologically adept talent pool — which position the country to create narratives that transcend borders.

India offers a 40% to 60% cost advantage in animation and VFX services, supported by a large, skilled workforce. The report also notes the increasing international appeal of Indian storytelling, with up to 25% of views on Indian OTT content now originating from overseas audiences. This phenomenon is not merely commercial—it represents a moment of cultural diplomacy, wherein India’s stories are forging emotional and cultural connections across continents.

‘Legal Currents: A Regulatory Handbook on India’s Media & Entertainment Sector 2025’ by Khaitan & Co says that creativity must be complemented by regulatory clarity.

It is a detailed legal and regulatory handbook for the media and entertainment sector and designed as a practical guide for producers, studios, influencers, and platforms, the handbook covers a range of key legal issues such as:

Compliance norms for both domestic and foreign entities

Incentive schemes for international productions

Legal frameworks around influencer marketing and digital content

Definitions and taxation implications in the gaming sector, including GST

Protection of celebrity rights

Ethical considerations and regulatory treatment of AI-generated content

Whitepaper on India’s Live Events Industry

The White Paper on India’s Live Events Industry underscores the sector’s robust growth and shifting consumer dynamics. With a 15% year-on-year growth rate, the industry added  Rs 13 billion in revenue in 2024 alone.

The report notes that nearly half a million fans are now travelling between cities to attend events, reinforcing the emergence of event-based tourism in India. There is a rising demand for premium and curated experiences, and Tier-2 cities such as Shillong, Vadodara, and Jamshedpur are emerging as cultural centres.

To support and scale this momentum, the whitepaper highlights the need for:

Upgraded event infrastructure

Streamlined and simplified licensing processes

Stronger and more transparent music rights frameworks

Formal  recognition of the live events sector under MSME and creative economy policies.

The report calls for a strategic reimagining of India as not just a spectator in the global cultural arena, but a key stage in the international spotlight.