Explained: AVGC Promotion Task Force Report

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 In today's edition of our Current Affairs, we will discuss AVGC Promotion Task Force Report. The topic's relevance to the UPSC CSE syllabus is mentioned below.

For Prelims: Current events of National and International Importance

AVGC, University Grants Commission, National Education Policy, Atal Tinkering Labs

For Mains: GS II- Government Policies and Interventions

About AVGC Sector and the related challenges, Recommendations of task force on AVGC

Context

The AVGC Promotion Task Force (Chaired by I&B Secretary Apurva Chandra) report has proposed a national AVGC-Extended Reality Mission with a budget outlay to be created for integrated promotion and growth of the sector. 

Probable Question 

Given the potential of AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic), discuss the recommendation of the AVGC task force along with the challenges faced by the sector. (150 words, 10 marks)

About Recommendation of Task Force on Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) 

The main recommendations of the Task Force categorized broadly under 4 categories are as under:

Domestic Industry Development for Global Access

• A National AVGC-XR Mission with a budget outlay to be created for integrated promotion & growth of the AVGC sector.
• Launch of a ‘Create in India’ campaign with exclusive focus on content creation, In India, For India & For World.
• With a goal to make India the global hub for AVGC, institute an International AVGC Platform, along with a Gaming Expo) with focus on FDI, Co-production treaties and Innovation.
• Establish a National Centre of Excellence (COE) for the AVGC sector to become an international reference point across Skilling, Education, Industry Development and Research & Innovation for the AVGC sector. Regional COEs will be instituted in collaboration with the State Governments to provide access to local industries and to promote local talent and content.

Also Read : Importance of PYQs in UPSC

Developing Talent ecosystem to realize Demographic Dividends

• Leverage NEP to develop creative thinking with dedicated AVGC course content at school levels, to build foundational skills and to create awareness about AVGC as a career choice.
• Launch AVGC focused UG/ PG courses with standard curriculum and globally recognized degrees. Standardize admission tests for AVGC related courses (viz, MECAT by MESC).
• With an eye on the demand of 20 Lakh skilled professionals in AVGC sector in this decade, augment skilling initiatives for AVGC sector under MESC. Enhance Industry participation to ensure employment opportunities and absorption for students from non-metro cities and NE states.
• Establish AVGC Accelerators and Innovation hubs in academic institutions, on lines of Atal Tinkering Labs.

Enhancing Technology & Financial Viability for Indian AVGC Industry

• Democratize AVGC technologies by promoting subscription-based pricing models for MSME, Start-Ups and institutions.
• Made in India for AVGC technologies through incentive schemes for R&D and IP creation. Evaluate PLI scheme to incentivize AVGC hardware manufacturers.
• Enhanced Ease of Doing Business in AVGC sector i.e tax benefits, import duties, curbing piracy, etc.
• Leverage Start-Up India to provide technical, financial and market access assistance to AVGC entrepreneurs to promote culture of R&D and local IP Creation.

Raising India’s soft power through an Inclusive growth

• Establish a dedicated Production Fund for domestic content creation from across India to promote Indian culture & heritage globally. Evaluate Reservation for high-quality indigenous content by broadcasters.
• For an Inclusive India, target skilling and industry outreach for youth in Tier 2 & 3 towns and villages in India. Establish Special incentives for women entrepreneurs in AVGC sector.
• Promote local Children’s channels for raising awareness on rich culture and  history of India among children and youth
• Establish framework to ensure Child Rights Protection in the digital world

About the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) Sector

• The gaming and allied businesses have long been in need of some sort of legitimacy, according to India's media and entertainment sector.
• Growth: Over the past seven years, the AVGC sectors—particularly the gaming industry—have seen wholesome growth.
• With the right push, it is envisaged that this country would soon take the lead in the world.
• All real-and-virtual integrated worlds, as well as human-machine interactions produced by wearables and computer technologies, are referred to as XR.
• It covers places interpolated between representative forms like augmented reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality.
• Skills: The government sought to concentrate on it through the task force because the gaming industry needs highly skilled content creators.
• India may become into the world's primary producer of material in this area
• Currently, India's AVGC business, which may have grown by 28% in 2021, provides $2.5 to $3 billion to the anticipated $260 to 275 billion global AVGC market and employs 1.85 lakh AVGC specialists.

• Nature (Expanding): India has climbed into the top five countries in the world for the gaming sector and is predicted to grow by 14–16% over the next ten years, with 45 crores of players online by 2023.
• Potential: By 2025, the industry could be worth $40 billion (5% of the world market), increase at a rate of 25–30% annually, and provide roughly 1,60,000 new employment.
• As a result, it has the ability to establish "India as a Brand" and "Create in India."

Challenges in AVDC Sector

• Even though India's AVGC industry is expanding quickly, there is still a gap in the market because there are no organised training programmes in gaming and no established legal guidelines.
• Less attention paid to research development.
• For the AVGC-XR sector, a research-related narrative must also be developed in order to give it the attention it deserves.
• The development of the AVGC ecosystem in the nation calls for a workforce with specific talents for a variety of professions, including animators, developers, designers, localization specialists, product managers, etc.
• At the moment, there is no specific curriculum for AVGC in the school or university systems of education.
• Infrastructure Restrictions: In the absence of suitable training infrastructure, the quality of instruction given to students declines, which has an influence on the output quality and people resources for the AVGC industry.

Way Forward

• Encouraging subscription-based pricing models for MSMEs, start-ups, and institutions will help democratise AVGC technologies.
• Development of indigenous technology through incentive programmes and the establishment of intellectual property.
• To promote the nation's culture and legacy abroad, a dedicated production fund for domestic content creation should be established.

News Source: The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/task-force-proposes-national-avgc-xr-mission-supported-by-holistic-financial-package/article66306704.ece

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