The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, hosted the first edition of the IICT Esports Premier League (IEPL) on February 8, marking a significant step toward strengthening India’s rapidly growing Orange Economy. The event spotlighted the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector as a key driver of innovation, employment, and youth-led growth in the country.
The initiative aligns closely with the Union Budget presented this month by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, which earmarked ₹250 crore for talent development in the AVGC sector. As part of this allocation, IICT will support the creation of AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges across India, aiming to build a strong and future-ready creative technology workforce.
IICT operates as a Government of India Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR (Extended Reality), structured on the IIT-IIM framework and backed by a ₹400 crore budget for its establishment and operations. The institute’s focus is to integrate education, technology, and industry collaboration, creating scalable platforms that nurture next-generation creative and digital professionals.
IEPL brought together students and gamers through a hybrid competitive format, combining national online qualifiers with on-campus LAN finals. The league featured popular esports titles such as BGMI and Valorant, alongside open-access games including FIFA, Real Cricket 24, Hitwicket, Cosmic Race, and Beat Saber VR. The event drew participation from over 1,000 students and visitors representing more than 20 colleges nationwide, including VIT and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.
The league was supported by several industry partners who enhanced both competition and engagement. Hitwicket and Cosmic Race contributed cash prizes across select titles, while CyberPowerPC (USA) supported participants through gift vouchers, branded merchandise, and hardware-focused giveaways. Xwall.io introduced a phygital sports experience by blending physical movement with digital gameplay, and Cineon Broadcast India Limited joined as the technology partner.
Commenting on the broader impact, Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, emphasised the role of initiatives like IEPL in preparing students for emerging careers in creative technologies. Professional gamer Gaurang Palav of GodLike, a runner-up at the 2023 World Championship, also highlighted the importance of such platforms in providing visibility and confidence to aspiring gamers. With IEPL set to become an annual fixture, IICT aims to further integrate esports, skilling, and industry readiness into India’s evolving creative economy.