Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT)
Context:
Recently, the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) was launched in line with the present IITs and IIMs to revolutionise the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
About IICT
- The IICT will become a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).
- Aim: To follow the model of IITs and IIMs to become a world class training hub.
- IICT will offer high-end professional training to meet growing demand in AVGC-XR sector.
What is XR (Extended Reality)?
- A collective term for immersive technologies that blend the digital and physical world:
- Virtual Reality (VR) โ fully immersive digital environments.
- Augmented Reality (AR) โ overlays digital info on real-world view.
- Mixed Reality (MR) โ interaction between real and virtual objects in real time.
Status of AVGC-XR Sector
- Global market: Valued at $366 billion (2021).
- India’s share: Less than 1%, but projected to reach $26 billion by 2030.
- Karnataka is emerging as a leader in this sector.
Key Growth Drivers in India
- Rising OTT user base: Over 547 million users in 2024.
- Smartphone & Internet boom: 900 million internet users expected by 2025, majorly from rural areas.
- Wider applications: Use in EdTech, architecture, gaming, and design.
- Emerging technologies: Investment in AR/VR, growth of 5G, and rising R&D in immersive content.
Prelims Practice Question
Q. The Indian Institute of Culture and Technology (IICT) was recently in news. Which of the below statements are correct wrt to IICTs.
- It is launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- It is primarily focused on animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
A. 2 only
B. 1 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. None
Answer: D





