The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, has invited proposals from industry associations, organisations and institutions working in the Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector for the conceptualisation, design and execution of industry-led challenges under Create in India Challenge (CIC) – Season 2, a flagship initiative of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2027.
To facilitate a transparent and merit-based selection process, the Ministry has launched a unified online portal for the submission of proposals and selection of challenges along with their executing entities. The Ministry has invited eligible organisations to submit proposals through the portal by July 31, 2026.
The Create in India Challenge (CIC) – Season 2 aims to implement industry-led, government-supported and youth-oriented challenges that identify and nurture creative talent, promote upskilling and capacity building, provide mentoring and training, encourage innovation, and create opportunities for collaboration across India’s Media & Entertainment ecosystem. The initiative will culminate in the showcasing of winning participants and projects at CreatoSphere during WAVES 2027.
The Ministry has envisaged more than 50 industry-led challenges under Season 2, with a special focus on emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital and Social Media, and the AVGC-XR ecosystem. Besides these focus areas, organisations may propose challenges across a wide range of Media & Entertainment domains, including Animation, Visual Effects (VFX), Online Social Gaming, E-Sports, Comics, Extended Reality (XR), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Films, Broadcasting, Music and Dance, Digital Media, and other emerging technology-driven creative sectors.
Who Can Apply
The Ministry has invited proposals from:
- Industry associations
- Professional organisations
- Institutions
- Other entities working in the Media & Entertainment sector
Applicants are expected to conceptualise, design and execute industry-led challenges that can effectively identify talent, provide mentoring and skill development opportunities, and generate measurable outcomes for India’s creative ecosystem.
Proposal Submission Process
The Ministry has prescribed an online application process through the newly launched unified portal.
– Prepare the Proposal
Interested organisations should prepare a comprehensive proposal outlining the proposed challenge. The proposal should clearly explain the challenge concept, objectives, implementation strategy, target participants, outreach plan, mentoring and capacity-building activities, expected outcomes, timelines, and financial requirements.
The proposed challenge should align with the objectives of the Create in India Challenge by promoting creativity, innovation, skill development and industry collaboration among youth.
– Submit Through the Unified Portal
All proposals must be submitted through the official Create in India Challenge Season 2 portal:
The unified portal has been introduced to provide a standardised and transparent digital platform for proposal submission, documentation, evaluation and selection.
– Submission Deadline
The last date for submission of proposals is July 31, 2026.
Applications received after the prescribed deadline may not be considered.
Evaluation and Selection Process
According to the Ministry, proposals will be assessed through a transparent and merit-based evaluation mechanism.
The evaluation will consider multiple parameters, including:
- Relevance of the proposed challenge
- Innovation and creativity
- Outcome-oriented approach
- Upskilling and capacity-building initiatives
- Grassroots outreach and participant engagement
- Technical feasibility
- Financial viability
- Organisational capability to execute the challenge
- Compliance with the terms and conditions specified in the Invitation for Proposal (IFP)
Based on the evaluation, the Ministry will select the challenges and their respective executing organisations.
Financial Support
To support successful implementation, the Ministry may provide a One-Time Grant (OTG) of up to ₹1 crore for each selected challenge.
The grant will be subject to technical and financial evaluation of the proposal and compliance with the conditions specified in the Invitation for Proposal document. Funding will also depend on the proposal’s focus, expected outcomes, upskilling initiatives, grassroots outreach and overall implementation plan.
Implementation of Selected Challenges
Selected organisations will be responsible for organising and executing their respective challenges under the Create in India Challenge banner.
This may include conducting nationwide outreach, inviting participant registrations, organising workshops and mentoring sessions, implementing structured skill development programmes, evaluating entries, selecting winners and ensuring successful execution of the challenge.
The initiative is intended to encourage greater industry participation while creating opportunities for young creators, innovators and professionals to showcase their talent on a national platform.
The winning participants and the outcomes of the selected challenges will be showcased at CreatoSphere during WAVES 2027, providing visibility to creators and facilitating collaboration among industry leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the Media & Entertainment sector.
The Ministry noted that the Create in India Challenge is a flagship initiative under the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) aimed at identifying, nurturing, upskilling and showcasing creators across India’s Media & Entertainment sector. Following the successful implementation of 33 industry-led challenges during CIC Season 1, the second season seeks to expand the initiative through stronger industry partnerships, youth-focused competitions, grassroots outreach, structured mentoring and outcome-driven skill development, while advancing the Prime Minister’s vision of “Create in India, Create for the World.”
