Immersive Technologies and India’s AVGC

Facts for UPSC Mains

Immersive Technologies and India’s AVGC-XR Ecosystem

• 27 Oct 2026
• 12 min read

Tags:
• GS Paper – 2
• Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology

Why in News? 

India is advancing the adoption ofimmersive technologies, driven by AI, high-speed connectivity and computing, to transformeducation, healthcare, urban planning and the creative economy, strengthening its potential as a global hub for immersive innovation. 

What are the Key Facts About Immersive Technologies? 

• About:Immersive technologies createinteractive, realistic digital experiencesby combining physical and virtual environments or simulating real-world settings. Theyengage multiple senses, enabling users to interact with digital objectsand experience a greater sense of presence. 
• Extended Reality (XR):An umbrella term encompassingVirtual Reality (VR),Augmented Reality (AR)andMixed Reality (MR). 
  • Virtual Reality (VR):Creates a completely computer-generated environment, allowing users to experience and interact with simulated surroundings through specialised devices. 
  • Augmented Reality (AR):Superimposes digital information, images or three-dimensional objects onto the physical environment while keeping the real world visible. 
  • Mixed Reality (MR):Integrates physical and virtual environments, allowing digital objects to interact with real-world surroundings. 
• Related Technologies: 
  • 360-Degree Video:Enables users to explore recorded environments by changing their viewing direction. 
  • Haptic Technology:Uses vibrations, pressure or other tactile sensations to simulate physical touch during digital interactions. 
  • Digital Twin:Adata-driven virtual representation of a physical object, system or locationthat enables real-time monitoring, simulation and predictive analysis. It can be integrated with XR technologies for immersive visualisation. 
• Enabling Technologies:Advances inArtificial Intelligence (AI),high-speed connectivity and computing support thedevelopment of immersive experiences across education, healthcare, tourism, gaming and other sectors. 
• Market Potential:According to market estimates,India’s immersive technology market generated approximately USD 1.26 billion in 2023and is projected to reach USD 7.82 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 29.8%, making India a potentially fast-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.  

What are the Key Applications of Immersive Technologies in India? 

• Education and Skill Development:AR/VR-based simulations enable experiential learning and interactive visualisation of complex concepts improving student engagement and understanding. 
  • IIT Madras is developing AR/VR-enabled learning solutionsfor rural secondary schools, allowing students to explore subjects such as history, science and languages through virtual environments. 
• Healthcare and Medical Training:Immersive simulations supportsurgical simulations, medical education and clinical skill development through realistic virtual environments,enabling risk-free practice and improved training.  
• Cultural Heritage and Tourism:Digital museums, virtual tours and AR experiences help preserve heritage and improve accessibility. 
  • The JATAN software has facilitated the digitisation of collections at eight national-level museums and twoArchaeological Survey of India (ASI)museums, accessible through theMuseums of Indiadigital repository. 
  • Indian Museum, Kolkata, and ASI museums at Hampi and Nalandause interactive digital and virtual visitor experiences. 
• Urban Planning and Infrastructure:Digital twins, AI, 5G and Internet of Things (IoT)enable simulation-based infrastructure planning and management. 
  • The Department of Telecommunications’ Sangam: Digital Twin initiativesupports digital infrastructure modelling, while the Varanasi Urban 3D Spatial Planning Project demonstrates its application in urban planning. 
  • National Digital Twin Vision:India aims to develop aNational Digital Twin for major urban centres by 2035, supporting data-driven urban planning and infrastructure management.  
• Transport and Mobility Management:Digital twins can analyse commuting patterns, transport demand and tourist movement to improve infrastructure and mobility planning.  
  • A Mobility Digital Twin,demonstrated atIndia Mobile Congress 2025,analysed mobility patterns in Delhi and tourist flows in Ayodhya. 
• Creative Economy and Entertainment:AR, VR and spatial computing support gaming, animation, virtual production and interactive media, creating opportunities for skilled employment and digital entrepreneurship.  

What are the Key Government Initiatives Promoting Immersive Technologies? 

Immersive technologies are supported throughIndia’s broader Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) framework, focusing on skill development, innovation, startups and digital content creation.  

• AVGC Promotion Task Force:Constituted by theMinistry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in April 2022to strengthen the AVGC ecosystem through public-private collaboration, inter-ministerial coordination and integrated sectoral  development. 
• Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT): Established inMumbai in 2025 as a National Centre of Excellencefor AVGC-XR education, training and innovation following the Task Force’s recommendations. It collaborates with global technology companies such as Google, Meta, Adobe and Netflix. 
• AVGC Content Creator Labs:TheUnion Budget 2026–27allocated ₹250 to establish labs in15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges,with IICT Mumbai as the nodal implementing agency, to develop practical skills in animation, visual effects, gaming and digital content creation. 
• GENESIS Scheme(Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups):Launched in 2022 by theMinistry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)to support approximately 1,600 technology startups over five years, particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. 
• WaveX:A media-tech startup accelerator and incubator launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to support startups developing AVGC-XR and emerging media technologies. 
• Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026:Scheduled for27th–29th October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi,organised by CSIR under the theme“Creative Minds, Catalyzing Science, Empowering Technologies.” 

States Leading India’s AVGC-XR Growth Story 

• Karnataka:AVGC-XR Policy 3.0 supportsskill development, infrastructure, production grants and financial incentives. ItsKITVEN AVGC Fundhas a ₹20-crore corpus. 
• Maharashtra:AVGC-XR Policy 2025 has a₹3,268-crore financial planand a long-term vision up to 2050, focusing on ecosystem development and infrastructure. 
• Telangana:The2016 IMAGE Policyestablished a dedicated AVGC framework around Hyderabad’s IMAGE Tower, supporting150+ AVGC/VFX companies, 30,000 direct jobs and 100 startups. 
• Tamil Nadu:AVGC-XR Policy 2026 targets200+ startups, 2 lakh jobs and up to 20% of India’s AVGC-XR market by 2030, supported by a hub-and-spoke Centre of Excellence model. 
• Kerala:AVGC-XR Policy 2024 focuses onspecialised skills and industry-aligned education, with a target of creating50,000 jobs by 2029. 
• Madhya Pradesh:AVGC-XR Policy 2025 promotesCentres of Excellence, AVGC-XR labs, skilling and investment incentives, including support for IP creation. 
• Uttar Pradesh:AnAVGC-XR Park in Jewaris being developed with facilities for animation, VFX, gaming, motion capture and virtual production. 
• Rajasthan:AVGC-XR Policy 2024 provides production incentives ofup to ₹50 lakhfor eligible animation/VFX/AR/VR projects and₹1 crorefor eligible game development. 
• Gujarat:Gujarat is preparing a comprehensive AVGC-XR policy focused oninfrastructure, skilling and startups, supported by16 institutions offering Animation, VFX and Gaming courses. 

Conclusion 

Immersive technologies are transforming interactions between the physical and digital worlds, creating new opportunities in education, healthcare, governance and the creative economy. Strengthening India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem through skilling, research, startup support and indigenous innovation can promote digital inclusion and support the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q1. What are immersive technologies? 
Immersive technologies create interactive digital experiences that simulate or combine physical and virtual environments through technologies such as VR, AR and MR. 

Q2. What is Extended Reality (XR)? 
XR is an umbrella term encompassing Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality, which enable different levels of interaction between physical and digital environments. 

Q3. What is a digital twin? 
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object, system or environment, using real-world data to support monitoring, analysis and simulation. 

Q4. What is the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT)? 
IICT is a National Centre of Excellence established in Mumbai in 2025 to promote education, skills, research and innovation in the AVGC-XR sector. 

Q5. What is the objective of AVGC Content Creator Labs? 
The initiative aims to develop practical skills in animation, visual effects, gaming and digital content creation through labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Prelims 

Q. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (2020)

1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 
2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 
3. Disease diagnosis 
4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 
5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy 

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(a)1, 2, 3 and 5 only 
(b)1, 3 and 4 only 
(c)2, 4 and 5 only 
(d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 

Mains 

Q. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by science-based technologies?(2020)

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