The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, held from May 1-4, 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, concluded as a landmark event for India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, WAVES positioned India as a global creative hub, fostering innovation, collaboration, and cultural diplomacy.
Overview of WAVES 2025
WAVES 2025, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was a global platform uniting creators, policymakers, startups, and industry leaders. Key features include:
- Duration: May 1-4, 2025
- Location: Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai
- Participants: Over 77 nations, 100+ international speakers, 1,000+ startups, and thousands of exhibitors and visitors
- Focus Areas: Broadcasting, digital media, OTT, AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Extended Reality), films, music, live events, and indigenous sports
- Key Initiatives: WAVES Bazaar, WAVEX Startup Accelerator, Create in India Challenge, Bharat Pavilion, and Global Media Dialogue
PM Modi described WAVES as a “wave of culture, creativity, and universal connectivity,” declaring it the dawn of India’s Orange Economy (creative economy).
Key Sessions and Themes
WAVES featured 140+ sessions, including 50 keynote addresses, 40 masterclasses, and 55 breakout sessions, covering critical M&E topics. Notable sessions relevant for exams include:
1. Best Practices for Social Media Advertising for Influencers (Day 4)
- Panel: Ms. Saheli Sinha (ASCII), Ms. Shibani Akhtar (Actor/Influencer), Shri Mayank Shekhar (Journalist), Shri Vinay Pillai (Pocket Aces)
- Moderator: Smt. Tanu Banerjee (Khaitan & Co)
- Key Points:
- Emphasized authenticity, transparency, and content responsibility in influencer marketing
- Ms. Akhtar: Influencers must align branded content with personal beliefs
- Shri Pillai: Platform-specific storytelling and data-driven decisions are crucial
- Shri Shekhar: Influence is now platform-led and niche-driven; integrity in content is vital
- Ms. Sinha: Transparency in paid promotions and adherence to legal guidelines
- Relevance: Highlights the growing creator economy and ethical advertising standards
2. Indigenous Sports: From India to the Global Stage (Day 3)
- Key Speakers: Shri Mohan Charan Majhi (CM, Odisha), Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse (MoS, Youth Affairs & Sports), Anupam Goswami (Pro Kabaddi League), Fazel Atrachali (PKL Athlete), Sudhanshu Mittal (Kho-Kho Federation)
- Moderator: Mantra Mugdh
- Key Points:
- Shri Majhi: Indigenous sports reflect India’s cultural identity; Odisha is a hub for tribal sports
- Smt. Khadse: Khelo India promotes sports like Kho-Kho and Kabaddi globally
- Shri Mittal: Kho-Kho played in 55 countries, aiming for 90 by 2025
- Technology (e.g., digital platforms) is key to globalizing traditional sports
- Relevance: Aligns with India’s cultural diplomacy and sports promotion initiatives
3. Taking Indian Music to New Heights (Day 3)
- Panel: Himesh Reshammiya, Kwee Tiang (Universal Music), Vikram Mehra (Saregama), Jay Mehta (Warner Music India)
- Moderator: Scott De Mercado
- Key Points:
- Reshammiya: Quality music and social media are key for new artists
- Mehra: Need for subscription-based models and anti-piracy measures
- Mehta: Indian music industry lags despite GDP growth; compelling content drives monetization
- Relevance: Reflects challenges and opportunities in India’s music industry
Key Reports Released
Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan released five pivotal reports on May 3, 2025, providing insights into India’s M&E ecosystem:
- Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment 2024-25:
- Publications registered with PRGI: 154,523 in 2024-25 (CAGR 4.99%)
- Doordarshan Free Dish: 381 channels in 2025
- All India Radio: Reaches 98% population, 591 stations in 2025
- Private TV Channels: 908 in 2024-25
- Community Radio Stations: 531 in 2025
- Indian Feature Films Certified: 3,455 in 2024-25
- From Content to Commerce (BCG): India’s creator economy has 2-2.5 million creators, influencing $350 billion in spending, projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030
- A Studio Called India (EY): India’s 40-60% cost advantage in animation/VFX; 25% OTT views from overseas
- Legal Currents (Khaitan & Co): Covers influencer marketing, AI content, and compliance norms
- Live Events Industry Whitepaper: 15% YoY growth, ₹13 billion revenue in 2024
WAVES Bazaar and Economic Impact
The WAVES Bazaar facilitated business deals worth ₹1,328 crore, including ₹971 crore from B2B meetings. The Maharashtra government signed MoUs worth ₹8,000 crore with entities like Prime Focus and Godrej. Key collaborations include:
- India-New Zealand Film Festival
- India-Russia cross-cultural festivals
- Prime Video-CJ ENM partnership for Korean content
- Indo-UK co-productions: Devi Chowdhurani and Violated
WAVEX Startup Accelerator
WAVEX supported 30 startups pitching to investors, generating ₹50 crore in investment discussions. Over 1,000 applications were received, with startups like Giggle (anti-cyberbullying platform) standing out. WAVEX aims to create an angel investor network for M&E startups.
Create in India Challenge (CIC) and CreatoSphere
The Create in India Challenge attracted 1 lakh registrations from 60 countries, with 750+ finalists showcasing work in animation, gaming, and AI. CreatoSphere served as an innovation zone for networking and collaboration.
Bharat Pavilion: From Kala to Code
The Bharat Pavilion, themed “From Kala to Code,” showcased India’s storytelling evolution across four zones: Shruti (oral traditions), Kriti (written traditions), Drishti (visual storytelling), and Creator’s Leap (AI, XR, gaming). Visited by PM Modi and other dignitaries, it highlighted India’s cultural and technological prowess.
Global Media Dialogue and WAVES Declaration
The Global Media Dialogue with 77 nations adopted the WAVES Declaration, emphasizing digital inclusion, global peace, and cultural unity through media. Key speakers included Dr. S. Jaishankar and Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT)
The IICT, a National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR, was formalized with MoUs signed with JioStar, Adobe, Google, and NVIDIA. It aims to position India as a global M&E leader.
8th National Community Radio Sammelan
The 8th National Community Radio Conference awarded 12 community radio stations. або
For competitive exams, focus on these key points:
- Event: WAVES 2025 (May 1-4, Mumbai)
- Inaugurated by: PM Shri Narendra Modi
- Ministry: Information and Broadcasting
- Reports Released: 5 (Statistical Handbook, BCG, EY, Khaitan & Co, Live Events)
- Creator Economy: 2-2.5M creators, $350B spending
- WAVES Bazaar: ₹1,328 crore deals
- WAVEX: 30 startups, ₹50 crore investments
- CIC: 1 lakh registrations, 60 countries
- IICT: AVGC-XR Centre of Excellence
- SDG Alignment: SDG 8 (Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Innovation)