This top bureaucrat reveals how India’s M&E sector is driving a ₹3 lakh cr economic boom

While speaking at the 19th India Digital Summit (IDS) today, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, highlighted that the media and entertainment industry contributes a whopping ₹3 lakh crore to the Indian economy.

Jaju emphasised the need for amendments to the Cinematographic Act to address piracy and promote accessibility.

He pointed out the challenges across various verticals in the media and entertainment industry, which are not confined to India but extend worldwide. “Many of these challenges are also global challenges. All these challenges are being shepherded by the industry, and I'm very happy to tell you that we've been getting very good participation from creators across the length and breadth of our country,” he added.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also mentioned the challenges posed by AI-driven recommendations that lead to algorithmic biases. “There are copyright concerns and content quality issues that impact children, especially content that promotes disharmony and sexual violence.”

The two-day IDS 2025, held from January 16-17, was hosted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, with support from Digital India, Skill India, and Make in India. This year’s theme is Bharat's Digital Path—Empowering Future Innovators.

Jaju stepped into this role in February 2024. He is a mechanical engineer with an MBA in finance and expertise as a cost accountant. In his earlier roles, he received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration and remains dedicated to elevating India’s media and entertainment sector to the global stage. He is currently spearheading WAVES, a summit aimed at establishing India as a global leader in the industry.

Key initiatives, such as the launch of Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, the promotion of digital radio, and the production of high-quality, globally relevant content, have been realised under his leadership.