States encouraged to designate SPOCs for WAVES, Create in India challenge
SRINAGAR: The National Conference on media, broadcasting, and the creative economy was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, bringing together senior officials from the Centre and States/UTs. Pawan Singh Rathore, Special Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir’s Information Department, represented the region, engaging in discussions aimed at strengthening coordination across various sectors of the media and entertainment (M&E) ecosystem.
The conference focused on enhancing public broadcasting, media, film, and creative industries, with an emphasis on expanding participation of States and UTs in national initiatives. It aimed to ensure that the benefits of India’s booming creative economy reach local talent and institutions across the country.
A comprehensive agenda covered 15 key areas. These included implementing the Right of Way (RoW) mechanism for cable operators, developing the WAVES 2027 roadmap, and strengthening WAVES Bazaar and market access for creative industries. Efforts were also directed toward expanding public service broadcasting infrastructure, integrating portals like the Indian Cine Hub (ICH) and Film Facilitation Office (FFO), and adopting a single-window system for film shooting and live-event permissions.
The conference underscored the importance of the WAVES platform, a major national initiative aimed at bringing together creative industries, startups, investors, and global industry leaders. The proposed WAVES 2027 roadmap envisioned a diverse ecosystem comprising CEO Roundtables, Creatosphere, WAVEX, WAVES Bazaar, and cultural and thought leadership tracks. An exhibition and Bharat Pavilion were proposed to showcase India’s media capabilities, promote its culture, and position India as a premier filming destination, fostering international collaborations.
WAVEX, a startup accelerator, was highlighted as a vital platform to support media-tech startups, encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment in the sector. The conference also emphasized strengthening public broadcasting with initiatives like WAVES OTT, MyWAVES, and Gems of India, which focus on local content showcasing regional culture, tourism, heritage, and development stories. These initiatives aim to amplify district-level talent and bring local stories to national and global audiences.
States and UTs were encouraged to collaborate closely with the Ministry to promote government schemes, citizen services, and cultural showcases. The Create in India Challenge (CIC) – Season 2 was a key initiative for nurturing creative talent from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, linking them with industry opportunities. States were advised to appoint dedicated nodal officers (SPOCs) to facilitate activities, identify venues, and support startups with incubation, mentoring, and funding.
The conference stressed that the active participation of States and UTs is essential to extend these initiatives beyond major urban centers, making the creative ecosystem more inclusive. States were urged to leverage their media assets for outreach and promotion.
Film ecosystem strengthening, including adopting a single-window mechanism for film permissions, was another focus. This aimed to make states more attractive for film production and creative events. Promoting low-cost rural cinema and ensuring accessibility standards in theatres were also discussed to make entertainment more inclusive.
Capacity building for DIPR officers through training at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) was emphasized, ensuring departments stay abreast of digital media trends and modern communication practices.
Pawan Rathore’s participation highlighted Jammu & Kashmir’s opportunities to engage more actively in national media initiatives, showcasing local talent and cultural heritage. The conference reaffirmed that collaboration between the Centre and States/UTs is vital to building a vibrant, technology-enabled, employment-oriented M&E sector, benefiting from local talent and connecting to global markets.
Facts Only
* A National Conference on media, broadcasting, and the creative economy was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
* Pawan Singh Rathore, Special Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir’s Information Department, represented the region.
* The conference aimed to enhance public broadcasting, media, film, and creative industries by expanding State/UT participation in national initiatives.
* Agenda items included implementing the Right of Way (RoW) mechanism for cable operators.
* The WAVES 2027 roadmap development was discussed.
* Efforts focused on strengthening WAVES Bazaar and market access for creative industries.
* Infrastructure improvements involved integrating portals like the Indian Cine Hub (ICH) and Film Facilitation Office (FFO).
* A single-window system for film shooting and live-event permissions was emphasized.
* WAVEX was highlighted as a platform for supporting media-tech startups.
* Public broadcasting initiatives mentioned were WAVES OTT, MyWAVES, and Gems of India.
* The Create in India Challenge (CIC) – Season 2 was an initiative for nurturing creative talent from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
* States and UTs were encouraged to appoint SPOCs to facilitate activities and support startups.
Executive Summary
A national conference on media, broadcasting, and the creative economy was held in New Delhi, bringing together officials from the Centre and various States/UTs to discuss strengthening coordination across the media and entertainment (M&E) ecosystem. The focus was on expanding participation of States in national initiatives to ensure that the growth of the creative economy benefits local talent and institutions nationwide.
The agenda included implementing mechanisms like the Right of Way (RoW), developing the WAVES 2027 roadmap, and enhancing market access for creative industries through the WAVES Bazaar. Efforts were directed toward improving public broadcasting infrastructure, integrating portals like the Indian Cine Hub (ICH) and Film Facilitation Office (FFO), and establishing a single-window system for film permissions and live-event approvals.
Key platforms highlighted included WAVES, which involves CEO Roundtables, Creatosphere, WAVEX (a startup accelerator), and initiatives like WAVES OTT, MyWAVES, and Gems of India to showcase regional culture. The initiative also focused on nurturing talent from Tier-II and Tier-III cities through the Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 2, encouraging States to designate Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) to support local startups with mentorship and funding.
Full Take
The narrative centers on the necessary structural shift from centralized media control to a decentralized, inclusive creative ecosystem, facilitated by specific governmental mechanisms. The emphasis on establishing SPOCs reflects an acknowledgment that national initiatives risk remaining concentrated in major urban centers unless local administrative units are empowered as active implementers. The promotion of WAVES and related platforms suggests a systemic attempt to monetize and localize the intangible assets of culture, positioning regional content—through initiatives like Gems of India—as valuable national resources.
The tension lies between top-down strategic planning (like the WAVES 2027 roadmap) and bottom-up execution (empowering States with SPOCs). While mechanisms like a single-window system aim to streamline bureaucratic processes for film and media, the success hinges on genuine capacity building rather than mere procedural adoption. The goal of extending benefits beyond major hubs directly confronts historical patterns where cultural and economic flows disproportionately benefit metropolitan areas.
The implication is that true innovation in the M&E sector requires not just technological integration (media-tech startups) but also administrative decentralization and resource allocation tailored to regional cultural assets. If states fail to activate SPOCs effectively, the proposed national initiatives risk becoming another layer of centralized oversight rather than genuine grassroots development. The core challenge is ensuring that the frameworks designed for growth translate into tangible, equitable opportunities for talent in Tier-II and Tier-III settings, resisting the gravitational pull toward established media capitals.
BRIDGE QUESTIONS:
What specific metrics will be used to evaluate the success of State/UT SPOC performance in facilitating startup incubation and funding? What structural changes are needed within existing state administrative frameworks to ensure these new roles possess sufficient authority outside of direct central Ministry oversight? How can regional cultural assets, showcased via initiatives like Gems of India, be integrated into the global market in a manner that fairly compensates local creators rather than reinforcing external viewership demands?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like a factual summary of a governmental media and creative economy conference, focusing on announced initiatives and objectives rather than opinion or deep interpretation.