India’s States Back Your Film Shoot

By Pickle November 8, 2026

Indian states offer international filmmakers financial incentives, fee waivers and facilitation support, with distinct eligibility rules, spending thresholds and reimbursement limits

A growing number of states now run their own schemes, and global filmmakers can use these to build a workable incentive plan. A close look at the incentives landscapes of India it can be seen that States such as Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand explicitly offers cash incentives on local spend, along with fee waivers and single-window permissions for shoots. These incentives are reimbursement of the Qualifying production spends and not grants. Each state sets its own eligibility rules, minimum spend thresholds, caps and payout timelines, so a producer can select a state according to the story’s locations, budget and schedule rather than depending on one national scheme. Because states compete for productions, they often negotiate on location fees, security, logistics support and access to heritage sites or public infrastructure. This can reduce costs and speed up approvals.

International producers can improve their results by partnering with an experienced Indian line producer or co-producer, who can handle state-specific paperwork, GST and local-spend documentation, and by splitting a shoot across several states to draw on more than one incentive, where the rules allow. Engagement of local Line producer is most often a mandatory requirement of the Sates. Producers should also confirm the current terms with each state’s film promotion body before locking in budgets, since schemes, rates and caps change often and are not uniform across states.

Steps for unlocking the Indian Sates Incentives :

STEP 1	STEP 2	STEP 3	STEP 4
On board a Local Line Producer / Co producer in India	Obtain permission for shooting in India through India Cine Hub (https://indiacinehub.gov.in/)	Apply for shooting permission and Incentives (pre qualifying) from respective States.	Submit relevant documents to State Nodal Agency for incentives disbursal

LEVERAGING THE INCENTIVES FOR FOREIGN FILMS SHOOTS OFFERED BY INDIAN STATES.

Madhya Pradesh: the clearest high-cap route

Madhya Pradesh’s Film Tourism Policy 2025 creates a dedicated category for international films. An eligible production can receive the lower of ₹10 crore or 10% of the expenditure it incurs in the state, provided it has Government of India approval, shoots at least 10 days in Madhya Pradesh and secures an international release.

Category	Pays	Main conditions
Film / TV serial/ TV show/ web series or original shows of OTT platform.	Upto 10% of COP or 10 Crore on shooting of international projects	Minimum 10 days shoot in case of International project

The ₹10 crore figure is a ceiling, not a grant. A production would need ₹100 crore of accepted in-state spending to reach it at the 10% rate, which makes the route most relevant to a large feature or series that genuinely bases much of its work in the state. Domestic films follow a separate formula, and the two should not be mixed when modelling an international budget. The policy also advertises a 40% discount at the state tourism corporation’s hotels and specified services, which can matter on accommodation-heavy schedules.

The state pairs the cash with process. Applications run through the Film Facilitation Cell of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, with a single-window online portal and a stated 15-calendar-day target for permissions. Producers should still treat the incentive as reimbursement after the event. Obtain an eligibility letter first, confirm which cost categories are accepted, and model the payment timetable before counting the money as a receivable.

https://www.mptourism.com

Gujarat in detail: 25%, with caps and conditions

Gujarat’s Cinematic Tourism Policy, formally the Investment Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Cinematic Tourism 2022-2027, was issued by the state’s Industries and Mines Department on 9 September 2022 and runs for 60 months. Its preamble says plainly whom it is for: regional, Bollywood and Hollywood film, television and streaming producers. In September 2026, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel repeated the invitation to “Indian and international” filmmakers at the 72nd National Film Awards, according to a news report.

The headline is simple. This Incentive Scheme is applicable for local, regional, and international films. Film makers/ Production companies across the globe are eligible to apply for this incentive scheme. The film (part/ full) should be shot in Gujarat to claim the incentive under this scheme. Films in any language receive 25% of eligible production cost incurred in Gujarat. The detail lies in the caps and thresholds, which differ by category.

Category	Pays	Cap	Main conditions
Feature film	25% of eligible Gujarat cost	₹1.5 crore (first film), ₹2 crore (second), ₹2.5 crore (third onward), per production house	Budget of at least ₹50 crore; 30 shoot days or ₹1.5 crore of eligible spend; 90+ minutes; release on more than 75 screens
Brand-affiliated film	25%	Same as features	15 shoot days or ₹75 lakh of eligible spend; must promote named Gujarat locations or heritage on screen
Prestigious project (₹100 crore or more)	25%	None stated	First three films each year; 45 shoot days or ₹5 crore; five Gujarat destinations and at least five Gujarat artists; prior committee approval
Web series or TV serial	25%	₹0.75 crore, ₹1 crore, ₹1.5 crore (first, second, third onward)	Budget of at least ₹10 crore; 75 shoot days or ₹3 crore; 150+ minutes; top-five streaming platform or TV; 20 Gujarati artists and crew or 10 Gujarat locations shown
Documentary	25%	₹25 lakh	At least ₹50 lakh of cost; 7 shoot days; 30+ minutes; subject approved in advance

https://gujarattourism.com

STATES COMPETE FOR PRODUCTIONS, SO A PRODUCER CAN SELECT A STATE ACCORDING TO THE STORY’S LOCATIONS, BUDGET AND SCHEDULE.

Uttarakhand: Clearest foreign-language provisions

Uttarakhand’s Film Policy 2024 contains one of the clearest foreign-language provisions in the country. A foreign-language film with more than ₹3 crore of expenditure in the state can receive the lower of 50% of that expenditure or ₹3 crore. It needs Government of India permission and must satisfy technical, banking, audit, credit and release conditions. The release test is the catch: the policy expects a substantial theatrical release outside India together with streaming approval or availability, so the producer carries distribution risk after the shoot.

Category	Pays	Main conditions
Foreign Language Films	50 % of the expenditure incurred in the State or up to Rs. 3 Crores, whichever is less.	Incurred a minimum expenditure of more than Rs 3 Crore in the State. Films Eligible for the grant are solely those films, that have been exhibited in more than of 50 cinema screens in their home country and/or in other countries, in addition to having been streamed on relevant over-the-top (OTT) platforms within their region. Accordingly, the amount of the grant will be determined. 90% of total expense must be paid through bank, cheque, online medium, internet banking, UPI, digital mediums, etc.

Delhi: Where Points matters.

The Delhi Film Policy 2022 covers national and international productions through a points system. A foreign production needs at least 20 points and can receive 10% to 25% of eligible below-the-line cost in Delhi, with an overall ceiling of ₹3 crore. The operational guidelines then bar any production that receives central or state monetary assistance for the same film.

https://delhitourism.gov.in/

Jammu and Kashmir: Stacking pf incentives not agreeable.

The Jammu and Kashmir Film Policy 2024 offers a non-local feature the lower of 5% of cost or ₹1 crore, subject to a ₹10 crore minimum cost, at least 20 shoot days, release evidence and at least 10 local artists. Foreign projects need central permission, and like Delhi the policy excludes any production that receives other government funding for the same film.

https://film.jk.gov.in

The Finer Points to remember

Treat every figure here as a starting point for a conversation with the issuing body, not as a budget line.

Policies expire or change. It is imperative that you find the right policy to refer to. Talk to the State Officials to understand the rules of procedure completely before finalising your location.
Stacking incentives is not guaranteed : States such as Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir expressly bar combining with other public money. Read the guidelines thoroughly.
Release is part of the deal of several State incentives. Several schemes pay only after a qualifying release both national and international.

TREAT EVERY FIGURE HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR A CONVERSATION WITH THE ISSUING BODY, NOT AS A BUDGET LINE.