India is gearing up to assume leadership in the global creative economy with AI-driven innovation, especially by empowering start-ups in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, as per the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B).

To ensure inclusive communication and successful last-mile delivery of information in all Indian languages, the Ministry is implementing AI-driven solutions that bridge the nation's huge linguistic divide.

In a recent interaction with incubators and startups at T-Hub, Hyderabad, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of I&B, underlined the government's intent to foster India's creator economy, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In this effort, the Ministry has rolled out the WaveX Startup Accelerator Platform, which has brought forth two main national innovation challenges:

• 'Kalaa Setu' – with a focus on creative tech and content innovation
• 'Bhasha Setu' – to create multilingual technology solutions

Jaju urged the best AI and language technology startups to apply through the WaveX platform and assist in the creation of scalable, indigenous technologies that respect India's cultural and linguistic diversity.

Also Read- Karnataka to Launch State-Specific AI Mission, Announces Minister Priyank Kharge

Winners of these challenges will present their solutions to a national jury in New Delhi, and the winners will be granted:

• An MoU to develop at full scale
• AIR, Doordarshan, and PIB pilot project support
• Incubation and mentorship under the WaveX Innovation Platform

WaveX, an initiative of the Ministry's WAVES program, aims to fast-track innovation in media, entertainment, and language technologies. During the WAVES Summit in Mumbai (May 2025), more than 30 shortlisted startups presented their concepts to government stakeholders, investors, and industry leaders.

WaveX continues to nurture innovative thinking through hackathons, incubation, and direct association with national platforms, making India a coming AI-fueled creative center for the globe.