India’s Orange Economy: Creativity Emerges as a New Growth Engine

India’s Orange Economy: Creativity Emerges as a New Growth Engine

The Orange Economy, recently highlighted by Narendra Modi, refers to the creative economy—economic activities rooted in creativity, culture, ideas, and intellectual property. Unlike traditional industries driven by physical capital, the Orange Economy generates value through content creation and innovation.
It includes sectors such as films, music, animation, gaming, fashion, design, advertising, publishing, OTT platforms, and digital content creation. These sectors also play a major role in enhancing a country’s soft power by shaping global cultural narratives.

India’s Orange Economy is expanding rapidly due to digital penetration, affordable internet, and a young, creative population. The creator economy is expected to grow at 18% annually, rising from $19 billion in 2023 to $34 billion by 2026. Indian films and digital content now reach audiences in over 100 countries, reflecting global acceptance of Indian stories and talent.

To strengthen this ecosystem, the government has announced a $1-billion Creative Economy Fund and proposed the establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology in Mumbai. These initiatives aim to skill creators, boost exports of cultural goods, generate employment, and position India as a global creative hub.