Mumbai: The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, hosted the inaugural edition of the IICT Esports Premier League (IEPL) on February 8, underscoring the rising importance of the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector within India’s emerging Orange Economy.
The development comes alongside renewed policy focus on creative technologies. In the Union Budget presented this month by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ₹250 crore has been earmarked for talent development in the AVGC sector. The allocation includes support for IICT to establish AVGC content creator labs across 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges nationwide, aimed at building a strong talent pipeline for the country’s growing creative industries.
IICT operates as a Government of India Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR (Extended Reality), structured on the IIT-IIM model, with a budgetary allocation of ₹400 crore for its establishment and operations.
The IEPL brought together students and gaming enthusiasts through a hybrid format featuring national online qualifiers and on-campus LAN finals. The tournament included competitive titles such as BGMI and Valorant, along with open-access formats like FIFA, Real Cricket 24, Hitwicket, Cosmic Race, and Beat Saver VR. The event drew over 1,000 students and visitors from more than 20 colleges across India, including Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology and VIT, among others.
IEPL was supported by multiple industry partners. Hitwicket and Cosmic Race contributed cash prize sponsorships across select titles, while CyberPowerPC (USA) supported participant engagement with gift vouchers, branded merchandise and hardware giveaways. Xwall.io introduced a phygital sports experience combining physical movement and digital gameplay through interactive installations, and Cineon Broadcast India Limited came on board as the technology partner.
Reflecting on the policy momentum, Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, said, “Hon’ble Finance Minister’s announcement highlights the growing importance of the Orange Economy in India’s growth story. Through initiatives like content creator labs, we are enabling deeper collaboration between education and industry while opening new career pathways for young talent. IEPL is a strong example of how such platforms can prepare students for the future of creative and digital careers.”
Professional gamer Gaurang Palav, who plays for GodLike, represented India at the 2023 World Championship and finished as the second runner-up, attended the event and said, “Platforms like IEPL are vital for visibility, learning and understanding how the esports and creative tech industries work in India. It gives young gamers exposure and confidence in their potential careers. It is encouraging to see the government pushing a creator-driven economy.”
IICT confirmed that IEPL will now be organised annually as part of its broader strategy to integrate esports, creative technologies, and industry-aligned skilling into India’s education framework and economic growth agenda.
