National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR to be set up in Mumbai

The Government of India has approved the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) in the country. The proposed NCoE will be in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the hub of the Indian film industry.

The NCoE is being set up on the recommendation of the Task Force on  Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics in 2022.

2022 Task Force on Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics 

The government of India set up a Task Force on Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) in 2022, headed by the then Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Apurva Chandra.

The Task Force was established after the Union Minister for Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced the establishment of a task force on Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics in her budget speech for 2022-23.

The Task Force recommended creating a National AVGC-XR (Extended Reality) Mission with a budget outlay for the integrated promotion and growth of the AVGC sector.

It also recommended setting up a National Centre of Excellence for the AVGC sector to become an international reference point across Skilling, Education, Industry Development and Research & Innovation for the AVGC sector.

Who will set up the NCoE?

The  NCoE for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) will be set up by a company to be set up under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013. 

Companies with charitable objectives are set up under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.

The Company will be a joint venture of the Government of India in partnership with the private sector represented by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Confederation of Indian Industry.

NCoE AVGC aims to create a world-class talent pool in India to serve the Indian and global entertainment industries.

Indian Institute for Immersive Creators (IIIC)

The name of the provisional National Centre of Excellence (CoE) will be the Indian Institute for Immersive Creators (IIIC). The IIIC will be set up on the model of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

The Institute will offer specialised training-cum-learning programs to equip both amateurs and professionals with the latest skill sets in cutting-edge AVGC-XR technologies and will  foster research and development in the sector.

The Indian Institute for Immersive Creators will create a manpower pool that will revolutionise the AVGC sector and foster innovation in immersive technologies.