YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced a significant investment of over ₹850 crore (approximately $102 million USD) in the Indian creator ecosystem over the next two years. This commitment aims to fuel the growth of Indian content creators, artists, and media companies, recognizing India’s burgeoning role as a “Creator Nation.” The announcement was made at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai.
Mohan highlighted the impressive growth of the Indian creator landscape. Over 100 million channels from India uploaded content to YouTube in the past year. Notably, the number of channels with over 1 million subscribers has jumped from 11,000 to over 15,000 in just a few months. This rapid expansion underscores India’s potential in the global digital arena.
YouTube’s financial commitment to Indian creators is substantial. Over the past three years, the platform has paid out over ₹21,000 crore (approximately $2.5 billion USD) to Indian creators, artists, and media companies. This significant contribution highlights YouTube’s role in fostering economic opportunities and supporting livelihoods within the Indian creative sector.
Indian content is captivating audiences worldwide. In the past year, content produced in India garnered a staggering 45 billion hours of watch time from viewers outside the country. This demonstrates the increasing global appeal of Indian stories, culture, and talent.
Key Initiatives and Future Plans
The ₹850 crore investment will be strategically allocated to:
- Training and Development: Programs to equip Indian creators with the skills and resources needed to thrive on the platform.
- Creative Support: Initiatives to foster innovation and originality in content creation.
- Global Expansion: Efforts to help Indian creators reach wider international audiences.
The Indian government is also actively supporting the creator economy. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced a $1 billion fund to further boost the sector. Additionally, the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) is being established in Mumbai to serve as a national hub for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR). Global tech and media giants like Nvidia, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Star India, and Adobe are collaborating with IICT.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at WAVES 2025, emphasized the importance of the creator economy in India’s journey towards becoming a $5 trillion economy. He described the current era as the “dawn of the orange economy in India,” highlighting the significance of content, creativity, and culture.
Key Highlights:
- YouTube is investing over ₹850 crore in the Indian creator ecosystem to support local talent.
- India’s creator base is rapidly expanding, with over 100 million channels and increasing numbers of creators reaching significant subscriber milestones.
- Indian content is gaining global traction, evidenced by 45 billion hours of international watch time.
- This investment aims to further empower Indian creators, enabling them to monetize their content and expand their global reach.