🚀 WAVES Creators Corner: The Future of Media

In a landmark event for India's Creative Economy, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has unveiled the WAVES Creators Corner at the India AI Impact Expo 2026, currently underway at Bharat Mandapam (Feb 16–20). Powered by the ministry's accelerator WaveX, this pavilion spotlights 51 cutting-edge startups revolutionizing the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) landscape.

51 Startups Showcasing
AI & XR Core Technologies
WaveX Growth Accelerator

🤖 "Ideas for India AI": Key Innovations

The Creators Corner is not just an exhibition but an immersive experience. Startups are demonstrating "Zero-Touch" and Generative AI solutions that redefine content creation.

📰 Zero-Touch Newsroom
An autonomous system converting live event feeds into multilingual "Breaking News" (Hindi, English, Tamil) without human intervention.
🗣️ The Bhasha-Wall
A massive video grid showcasing real-time lip-synced dubbing across 8 Indian languages, featuring an AI sign language avatar for accessibility.
🎬 The Director’s Chair
An interactive experience where users can alter movie scenes and environmental elements simply by using voice commands.
🕰️ Samvad Setu
A conversational AI platform allowing visitors to hold interactive dialogues with historical legends, blending education with immersive tech.

🌐 WaveX: The Ecosystem Enabler

WaveX is the Ministry of I&B's dedicated startup accelerator, bridging the gap between innovators and the government. It operates in partnership with T-Hub Hyderabad and IIT Delhi.

  • 🏆 Challenge Winners: Winners of the Bhashasetu (Language Tech) and Kalaasetu (Cultural Tech) challenges are displaying AI tools for linguistic accessibility and heritage preservation.
  • 🏢 Incubation Network: WaveX supports startups through 9 incubation centres across India, including IICT Mumbai, FTII Pune, SRFTI Kolkata, and various IIMC campuses (Delhi, Aizawl, Amravati, Dhenkanal, Kottayam, Jammu).

📚 Prelims Quiz Corner

1. The "WAVES Creators Corner" featuring AVGC-XR startups was recently inaugurated at which event?
  • A) Global Media Congress 2026
  • B) India Mobile Congress 2026
  • C) India AI Impact Expo 2026
  • D) Digital India Summit 2026
Answer: C
2. "WaveX", recently seen in the news, is an initiative associated with which Ministry?
  • A) Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
  • B) Ministry of Science and Technology
  • C) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • D) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer: C

📝 Mains Practice Q&A

Q. The AVGC-XR sector offers immense potential for India's "Soft Power" and economic growth. Discuss how initiatives like 'WaveX' and AI integration can transform India into a global content hub. (GS-3: Science & Tech / Economy) - 200 Words
Model Answer Synopsis
Introduction Highlight the growing global demand for immersive content (AVGC-XR). Mention the WAVES initiative as a strategic push by the Govt.
Role of AI & WaveX 1. Democratization: Tools like "Zero-Touch Newsrooms" and "Swar Sangam" lower entry barriers for creators.
2. Linguistic Inclusion: "Bhasha-Wall" and AI dubbing break language barriers, expanding the domestic market.
3. Heritage Preservation: AI can modernize storytelling (e.g., "Samvad Setu"), projecting Indian culture globally.
Conclusion By fostering a startup ecosystem through incubation (IIT Delhi, T-Hub), India can move from being a "back-office" for global animation to a "creator" of original IP.
Source Information: PIB Release ID: 2228700 (Feb 16, 2026) Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
WAVES Creators Corner: 51 Startups Redefining Media at India AI Expo 2026 - Image 1