Govt to establish 15,000 content creator labs, new NID in Budget 2026

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to establish Content Creator Laboratories in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges nationwide.
• The initiative aims to provide hands-on training in digital skills and early exposure to new-age creative careers, supported by the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai.
• These labs are designed to bridge the skills gap in India's AVGC sector, which is projected to require two million professionals by 2030.
• The government also plans to establish a new National Institute of Design (NID) in eastern India to strengthen design education and nurture innovative talent.
• Experts believe these measures will position India as a global hub for creative and technology-driven industries.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 focuses on boosting digital and design skills with new labs and a National Institute of Design.