India's Creative Legacy and Global Context
India has a long history of creativity in arts, science, medicine, astronomy, and more.
As India moves towards a $5 trillion economy, creativity and innovation must be supported at all levels.
Globally, creative services hit $1.4 trillion in exports in 2022; creative goods reached $713 billion.
Three leading global creative sectors: software (41.3%), R&D (30.7%), and advertising/design (15.5%).
India’s Creative Economy Today
In 2019, India’s creative exports were $121 billion, mostly from creative services.
As of 2024, the industry is worth $30 billion and employs 8% of India's workforce.
Design leads India’s creative goods exports; arts and crafts also contribute significantly.
Creative exports grew 20% last year, generating $11 billion.
Link Between Creativity and Innovation
Creativity is the starting point; innovation scales it into usable products and services.
Creativity can be spontaneous or deliberate, emotional or cognitive.
India has strong grassroots creativity, but it often lacks support to become scalable innovations.
Groups like Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network (GIAN) help highlight and promote local creative solutions.
Need for Investment and Policy Support
Projects like Indonesia’s Antrodam (to create a solution to flooding) show how creativity can solve real-world problems.
Indian inventions like mitti cool fridges and pedal washing machines need funding to scale.
More investment is needed for local and grassroots innovation, with better IP protection.
Government could adopt a ‘One District One Innovation’ model to support local ideas.
Even small climate-related creative innovations deserve funding for greater impact.
Conclusion
India needs an ecosystem that balances creativity and innovation with real investment.
Supporting ideas at all levels is key to growing India’s creative economy and meeting development goals.
COMMENTS