At WAVES 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted an exclusive roundtable with global tech and media giants including Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen, YouTube’s Neal Mohan, Instagram’s Adam Mosseri, and Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani to shape the future of the Indian creative economy. Alongside them were Indian startup founders and digital creators, ready to foster a new era of creative and cultural innovation.
Embracing AI While Respecting Originality
Artificial intelligence is transforming content creation, impacting everything from graphic design and video editing to scriptwriting and sound production. However, this transformation raises concerns about copyright. PM Modi addressed this issue directly by announcing India’s commitment to developing an AI-friendly copyright framework. A special task force will be established to bring together government officials, tech engineers, and creators to design fair-use guidelines for AI-generated work. The goal is to protect originality while fostering innovation.
Putting Creators at the Core
Modi emphasized that “Platforms don’t make stories. People do.” To ensure that creators remain central to the digital economy, he introduced three key initiatives:
1.Regional Innovation Hubs in Gujarat, Assam, and Tamil Nadu for production and collaboration.
- Mentorship Circles to support aspiring filmmakers, writers, and content creators.
- Creative Micro-Grants for independent projects such as short films, comics, or indie games.
In support of this vision, Mukesh Ambani committed to expanding studio spaces and tech labs in smaller cities, stating that India’s next big storyteller could emerge from any corner of the country.
Cutting Red Tape, Not Creativity
International CEOs expressed appreciation for India’s plan to simplify:
– Content licensing procedures
– Data storage and cross-border data flow
– Digital taxation policies
These reforms will facilitate operations for digital platforms and creative startups across regions, helping to establish India as a truly creator-first digital ecosystem.
Declaring a Digital Tsunami
India boasts over 500 million YouTube users, a remarkable number. Neal Mohan noted Modi as “the most streamed global leader,” while Adam Mosseri pledged to introduce new monetization features for Instagram Reels and advanced tools in Indian languages. This initiative will empower creators by improving income opportunities and providing tools tailored to India’s linguistic diversity.
Global Collaborations Take Shape
The roundtable concluded with plans for forward-thinking collaborations, including:
- AI-powered dubbing Labs to translate regional content into 15+ global languages.
- Studio Partnerships that blend Indian storytelling with international production quality.
- Startup Fast-Track Programs to help Indian creative applications enter global platforms more quickly.
Final Thoughts: India’s Creative Ascent Has Begun
India’s creative economy stands at the intersection of ancient storytelling traditions and advanced digital technology. With robust policies, grassroots support, and international partnerships, the country is poised to become a global creative powerhouse.
Are you a creator, entrepreneur, or startup founder in India’s digital space? This is your moment. Join the creative revolution. Tap into the growing ecosystem, apply for new grants, and innovate with AI while telling uniquely Indian stories that the world needs to hear.
Follow us for updates on WAVES initiatives, grants, and creator tools rolling out in 2025. Be part of the future. Create with India.
