Karnataka as the Turbo-Charge of India’s Orange Economy

By Pickle  March 5, 2026

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Karnataka’s creative tech sector is no longer a cultural side note—it’s a strategic engine, powering the Orange Economy with innovation, investment, and global ambition says  Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Tourism, Government of Karnataka

Karnataka has long been recognized as India’s technology nerve center. Under the dynamic leadership of Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, the state is redefining the very future of creative technology, positioning itself as a global innovation powerhouse and a turbo-charger for the Orange Economy.

A Visionary at the Helm

Priyank Kharge is not just a policymaker—he’s a trailblazer. Known for his “CEO-like” approach to governance, Kharge has been instrumental in advancing artificial intelligence, deep tech, and immersive technologies across Karnataka. His focus is clear: leverage technology to transform traditional sectors and align innovation with real-world needs.

Biren Ghose, President of the Association of Bangalore Animation Industry (ABAI), calls him “a truly visionary leader” for his proactive, tech-driven approach that is setting new benchmarks for what a state government can achieve.

Creative Tech: From Cultural Asset to Strategic Engine

“For decades, creative industries were viewed as cultural assets—valuable, expressive, but economically peripheral. That perception no longer holds,” Kharge explains. Today, creative technology sits at the intersection of art, computation, and global commerce. Its influence extends far beyond entertainment, touching education, simulation, commerce, and even how society perceives reality.

Karnataka recognized this paradigm shift early. Animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and immersive media (AVGC-XR) now complement and amplify the state’s strengths in information technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, aerospace, and defense. Together, they form a new industrial stack—one where creativity multiplies innovation and drives economic growth.

Strategic Policy, Lasting Impact

Identified as a strategic growth sector, AVGC-XR is now in its third iteration of Karnataka’s five-year policy framework. The state’s long-term commitment is clear: a 16-year policy horizon signals to investors, studios, and talent that Karnataka is not just experimenting, but investing in the future.

Stability and continuity are at the heart of this approach. “Stability matters to investors. Continuity matters to studios. Vision matters to talent,” Kharge asserts. With intellectual property-led businesses, recurring revenues, and global scalability, creative technology boosts export resilience and positions Karnataka as a key player on the world stage.

The Government as Ecosystem Enabler

Unlike the past, government’s role is no longer to create content, but to build the ecosystem in which creativity thrives. Key enablers include:

Targeted incentives and grants

Infrastructure and incubation support

Skill development in line with industry evolution

Global market access and strategic partnerships

Given the high-risk, high-reward environment of creative enterprises—where patient capital and tolerance for failure are essential—the state’s support mechanisms absorb early risk and allow innovation to flourish.

Bengaluru GAFX: Where Policy Meets Practice

At the heart of this transformation is Bengaluru GAFX, a flagship event that exemplifies Karnataka’s commitment to the creative economy. Here, global studios, startups, and creative leaders converge to see policy in action and witness the state government as a true partner in innovation.

A Bold Vision for 2030

“Looking ahead to 2030, our goal is clear: Karnataka will not merely participate in the global creative economy—it should shape it,” says Kharge. True leadership, he believes, will be defined not just by scale, but by innovation, ecosystem coherence, and a sense of ownership.

Karnataka is determined to ensure that creative technology is not relegated to the sidelines of economic policy, but stands front and center as a strategic engine for growth. With visionaries at the helm and a robust, forward-looking policy framework, the state is turbo-charging India’s Orange Economy and setting a global example of what public-private partnership can achieve.

Karnataka is determined to ensure that creative technology is not relegated to the sidelines of economic policy, but stands front and center as a strategic engine for growth