The Orange Economy is built on the "3 Cs": "Content, Creativity, and Culture". It encompasses a wide range of industries, including:
* Media & Entertainment:Cinema (Bollywood/Tollywood), OTT streaming, music, and radio.
* AVGC-XR:Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.
* Arts & Heritage:Performing arts, crafts, museums, and historical tourism.
* Design & Services:Fashion, architecture, advertising, and graphic design.
Globally, the creative industries contribute roughly 3% of world GDP and employ nearly 30 million people. In India, the sector is estimated to be worth approximately ₹2.5 trillion in 2024, with high-growth segments like gaming (₹232 billion) and animation/VFX (₹103 billion) leading the charge.
The "multiplier effect" of the Orange Economy is its greatest strength. For instance, the "Concert Economy" - a subset of this sector - generates revenue far beyond ticket sales by fueling demand for hospitality, local transport, security, and advertising.
The Union Budget 2026-27 marked a turning point by formally recognizing the Orange Economy as a primary engine for job creation. Key initiatives include:
* AVGC Content Creator Labs:Establishing labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges to train the projected 2 million professionals needed by 2030.
* National Institute of Design (NID):Setting up a new institute in Eastern India to address the talent gap.
* Cultural Destinations:Transforming 15 major archaeological sites (like Dholavira and Sarnath) into immersive cultural hubs using AR/VR technology.
Despite its potential, the Orange Economy faces structural bottlenecks:
* Regulatory Hurdles: Organizers often require 10-15 separate clearances for live events.
* Intellectual Property (IP) Protection: Ensuring creators receive fair compensation in the age of AI and digital piracy remains a challenge.
* Infrastructure: There is a persistent shortage of large-scale venues and modern digital labs in non-metro cities.



