New Delhi: The Centre has constituted an ‘Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Promotion Task Force’ in a bid to promote the AVGC sector in the country, it was announced on Friday. According to a statement by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Union Budget 2022-23 announced an AVGC Promotion Task Force to further unleash the AVGC sector as India has potential to become the torch bearer of ‘Create in India’ and ‘Brand India’. The Task Force shall be headed by Secretary in the I&B and will have Secretaries of Ministries of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Education, Electronics and Information Technology and the Departments of Higher Education and Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the statement said. It will have widespread participation of industry partners including Biren Ghosh, Country Head, Technicolor India, and Ashish Kulkarni, Founder, Punaryug Artvision Pvt Ltd, it said. The AVGC Promotion Task Force also includes the governments of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana, heads of education bodies such as All India Council of Technical Education, National Council of Educational Research and Training and representatives of industry bodies — MESC, FICCI and CII, the release said. The Task Force will provide focused thrust for the growth of the sector by driving the institutional efforts to guide the policies of growth for this sector, establish standards for AVGC education in India, actively collaborate with industry and international AVGC institutes, and enhance the global positioning of the Indian AVGC industry. “The terms of reference of the Task Force includes framing of a national AVGC policy, recommend national curriculum framework for Graduation, Post-Graduation and Doctoral courses in AVGC related sectors, facilitate skilling initiatives in collaboration with academic institutions, vocational training centers and industry,” the Ministry said. Among others, boost employment opportunities and facilitate promotion and market development activities to extend global reach of Indian AVGC Industry, the statement said. The Task Force will submit its first action plan within 90 days, it added. UNI DS MR
