Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw today launched three major initiatives, aimed at strengthening India’s media, broadcasting and digital sector and promoting the creative economy. The three initiatives, namely, national AI Skilling Initiative in partnership with Google and YouTube through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT); MyWAVES, a citizen creator platform on WAVES OTT; and the rollout of Advanced Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and in-built satellite tuners in television sets for enhancing access to DD Free Dish services, are aimed at promoting the ‘Orange Economy’, strengthening public broadcasting, and building an AI skilled workforce in the media and entertainment sector. The event witnessed participation from key M&E Industry representatives, Head of YouTube India along with senior officials from the Ministry.
Affordable Technology for All
Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of democratising technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw said the initiatives will make technology more affordable and accessible. He added that with in-built satellite tuners and an advanced programme guide, citizens can now access content easily without additional equipment.
Speaking about the second initiative, he described MyWAVES as a powerful platform for content creators, enabling them to create, upload, and share content, thereby strengthening India’s digital ecosystem. Referring to the Union Budget announcements, he underlined the government’s commitment to promoting the ‘Orange Economy’ and supporting the creative sector.
The Minister further highlighted that under the National AI Skilling Initiative, being implemented with the support of YouTube, around 15,000 youths will be trained without any fee. He also spoke about the ‘Creators’ Corner’ initiative, noting its growing popularity, with some content already receiving over 3 million views. He urged creators across the country to actively use Doordarshan and platforms like MyWAVES to showcase India’s rich culture, traditions, and regional diversity.
Calling upon creators to leverage these platforms, he encouraged them to present stories from their regions and contribute to a vibrant and inclusive media landscape.”
Strengthening Creators, Expanding Access
“Speaking about the three initiatives the National AI Skilling Initiative, MyWAVES platform and the rollout of in-built satellite tuners in television sets along with the Advanced Electronic Programme Guide Sanjay Jaju highlighted that all three reflect a common policy direction. These initiatives are aimed at building a strong ecosystem for creators while ensuring wider access to quality broadcasting.
The National AI Skilling Initiative will help creators build capabilities and achieve their goals in the evolving digital landscape. MyWAVES will support the creation of a vibrant digital ecosystem, enabling citizens to create, upload, and share content. The third initiative, related to DD Free Dish adds significant value by allowing citizens to access content without the need for a set-top box, thereby improving reach, especially in remote areas.
In essence, the first initiative will make people capable, the second will enable expansion of opportunities, and the third will ensure access to content for all.
Empowering Creators Through AI
Speaking about the partnership’s impact on creators, Gunjan Soni, Managing Director – India, YouTube, said, “We believe that AI has the potential to open up remarkable opportunities for India’s dynamic creative economy. Through our collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and IICT, we aim to equip creators and professionals with the skills required to master the tools of the future, leverage AI to tell more compelling stories, expand their reach to new audiences, and play a role in shaping the future of media. This initiative reflects our continued commitment to a ‘Digital India’ where technology serves as an enabler for all.”
National AI Skilling Initiative
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in partnership with Google and YouTube, has announced a national AI skilling initiative to train 15,000 participants from the creative and media sectors. This initiative is being implemented through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), and is aimed at strengthening AI capabilities in areas such as animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC) and media technology.
The AI skilling programme will be conducted in two phases. Phase I, from 23rd March to 30th June, 2026, will focus on foundational AI learning at scale through Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud Generative AI learning paths. Participants will undergo courses such as AI Essentials, Prompting Essentials, Introduction to Generative AI, and Generative AI Leader Path. Successful completion of this phase will be mandatory for progression to the next stage.
Phase II, to be conducted from July to December 2026, will focus on advanced, hands-on and project-based specialisation for the creative industry. The curriculum will include modules on the art of storytelling, YouTube best practices, and advanced training using AI tools such as Gemini 3, Nano Banana, Veo, and Vertex AI. The training will be conducted in major cities across the country.
The initiative will support creators, media professionals, students and developers in building future-ready skills and contribute to India’s emergence as a global hub for digital content and innovation.
MyWaves – Citizen Creator Platform under WAVES OTT
The Ministry also announced MyWaves, a new feature within the WAVES OTT platform that will enable citizens to create, upload and share content. MyWaves is designed as a structured platform for user-generated content (UGC) that will also support participation in national initiatives such as the Create in India Challenge.
The platform marks a shift from content viewing to active content participation, making WAVES OTT a platform not only for viewing but also for creation. MyWaves will support multiple formats including short videos, vertical videos and episodic content, and will offer a multilingual interface across Indian languages. MyWAVES is expected to serve as an important platform for emerging creators and storytellers from across the country.
Advanced EPG & In-built Satellite Tuner in Television Sets
In a significant step towards making television viewing simpler and more accessible, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has introduced television sets with built-in satellite tuners along with a new, user-friendly programme guide (EPG). With this initiative, viewers will be able to watch DD Free Dish channels directly on their television sets without the need for a separate set-top box, thereby reducing additional costs, wiring, and the hassle of multiple remotes. At the same time, the new advanced programme guide will allow users to easily browse channels and programme schedules in one place through a simple and intuitive interface, making the overall viewing experience more convenient for households across the country.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is leading these efforts as part of its commitment to promoting the ‘Orange Economy’, strengthening public broadcasting along with improved accessibility, and building an AI skilled, future ready workforce for the M&E Sector. Prasar Bharati continues to play a key role in improving public broadcasting, while IICT will drive the AI skilling programme for the creative sector, and WAVES OTT will provide a platform for citizen participation and content creation including dovetailing of the Create in India challenge.
