Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Address Post-Budget Webinar on Education and Skills Development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at a significant post-Budget webinar titled "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling Aspirations of People: Education, Skills and University Townships" on March 9, 2026. This high-level virtual event is being organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education as part of a series of discussions centered on initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Webinar Aims to Translate Budget Proposals into Action
According to official statements from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the webinar is designed to bring together a diverse array of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, academic experts, startup founders, and students. The primary objective is to engage in constructive dialogue on how the various proposals outlined in the recent budget can be effectively implemented on the ground to achieve tangible outcomes.
The inaugural session is set to commence at 11:30 AM on March 9. During this session, Prime Minister Modi is expected to articulate the broader strategic vision underpinning the budget's significant push for the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) creator economy. This vision aims to synergize creativity, cultural heritage, and cutting-edge technology to foster economic growth, generate employment opportunities, and enhance India's soft power on the global stage.
Focus on AVGC Content Creator Labs in Educational Institutions
A major highlight of the webinar will be a dedicated breakout session focusing on a specific and ambitious budget proposal: "AVGC Content Creator Labs in Schools and Colleges." As per the Union Budget 2026-27, the government has proposed establishing these specialized labs in 15,000 schools and 500 higher educational institutions across the country.
These labs are envisioned as hubs for creative learning, designed to equip students with practical skills directly linked to the burgeoning fields of animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics. The initiative, as reported by ANI, is a strategic move to strengthen India's overall AVGC ecosystem and build a robust pipeline of skilled creators, contributing to what the government terms the "Orange Economy."
Breakout Session Details and Distinguished Participants
The in-depth breakout session on AVGC labs is scheduled from 12:20 PM to 01:50 PM. It will be moderated by Chaitanya Chinchlikar, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Whistling Woods International. The session will feature a keynote address by Sanjay Jaju, Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, who will outline the government's rationale for focusing on creator labs within educational institutions.
This will be followed by a comprehensive panel discussion featuring an array of officials and industry representatives:
- Dheeraj Sahu, Additional Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy
- Ashish Kulkarni, Chairman, FICCI AVGC Forum
- Rajan Navani, Founder and Group CEO, JetSynthesys
- Sonam Bhagat, CEO, Vygr
- A student representative from the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies
Additionally, the discussion will include valuable interventions from prominent industry figures such as Munjal Shroff of Graphiti Multimedia, Biren Ghose of Technicolor Group, Manvendra Shukul of Lakshya Digital, Mala Sharma of Adobe India, and Preeti Vyas of Amar Chitra Katha. Two young volunteers from MyBharat are also expected to participate, ensuring a multi-generational perspective.
Closing Session and Call for Broad Participation
The insights and outcomes from the day's discussions will be consolidated and presented during the closing session. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, is slated to deliver a special address at 05:25 PM, summarizing the key takeaways and future pathways.
The government has extended an open invitation for broad participation, encouraging stakeholders from educational institutions, industry bodies, startups, content creators, students, and parents to join the webinar and actively contribute to the discussions. The overarching hope is that these conversations will yield practical, actionable steps for the successful implementation of the AVGC Content Creator Labs initiative, thereby significantly expanding creative and digital skill sets among India's youth and positioning the nation as a global leader in the creative economy.
(With inputs from ANI)
