YouTube has announced a landmark investment of over ₹850 crore in India over the next two years. The move aims to accelerate the growth of the country’s thriving creator ecosystem, supporting local content creators, artists, and media companies. The announcement was made by YouTube CEO Neal Mohan at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai.
India: The New “Creator Nation”
India’s digital content landscape is booming. More than 100 million Indian YouTube channels uploaded content in the past year. Of these, over 15,000 channels have crossed the milestone of one million subscribers, up from 11,000 just a few months ago. This surge highlights India’s rapid rise as a global powerhouse in the digital creator economy.
Mohan praised India’s unique position, saying, “YouTube’s ability to connect creators anywhere with audiences everywhere has made it a powerful engine for cultural export, and few nations have harnessed this as effectively as India”.
Massive Economic Impact
YouTube’s influence goes beyond entertainment. In the last three years, the platform has paid more than ₹21,000 crore to Indian creators, artists, and media firms. Indian content is reaching global audiences, clocking 45 billion hours of watch time from outside the country last year alone.
These numbers represent real opportunities. Many Indian creators have turned their passions into successful businesses, building loyal fan bases around the world.
Government Support and Industry Growth
The Indian government is also backing the creator economy. In March 2025, a $1 billion fund was launched to further boost digital creators. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at WAVES 2025, emphasized the importance of content, creativity, and culture as pillars of the new “orange economy”.
India’s creator ecosystem is now among the world’s fastest growing, with over 4 million online celebrities and a booming influencer-led ecommerce sector catering to nearly 300 million online shoppers.
The Road Ahead
With YouTube’s fresh investment and strong government support, India’s digital creators are set to reach new heights. The country is not just creating for itself, but for the world-cementing its place as a true “Creator Nation”.