Immersive Technologies

From Digital to Immersive: India's Next Leap

Over the last decade, India has built a strong digital ecosystem that has transformed everyday interactions with technology. Platforms such as UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker, UMANG and BHASHINI have expanded access to services and information. As digital platforms become more widespread, the next opportunity is to make these interactions more interactive, visual and experiential. Rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence, high-speed connectivity and computing are enabling this shift from simply accessing digital services to experiencing them. Click to Read More: India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and Transforming India with AI

This emerging phase is being shaped by immersive technologies, which bring digital content closer to the way people experience the physical world. Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality and 360-degree experiences can create interactive environments and enable users to engage with digital content in new ways. These capabilities can transform education through virtual simulations, healthcare through immersive training, and tourism through virtual exploration. They can also create more engaging experiences across culture, gaming, entertainment, retail and other sectors. In doing so, immersive technologies can expand the impact of India’s existing digital ecosystem beyond conventional screen-based interactions.

The scale of this opportunity is reflected in India’s rapidly growing immersive technology market. The market generated USD 1,259.5 million in revenue in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 7,818.7 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 29.8 per cent. India is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market in Asia Pacific, supported by its digital ecosystem, expanding middle class and rising e-commerce adoption. This growth presents an opportunity for India to move beyond being a large market and emerge as a global hub for immersive technology. Building capabilities in research, startups, talent, content and indigenous technologies can help India shape the next generation of immersive experiences and strengthen its position in the global digital economy.

Understanding Immersive Technologies

Immersive technologies are an emerging suite of technologies that create interactive, engaging and realistic digital experiences. Immersive technologies can combine the physical and digital worlds. They enable users to interact with digital content in ways that feel more natural and experiential. Users can interact with digital objects and respond to simulated situations. Unlike conventional digital media, these technologies can engage multiple senses and create a stronger sense of presence. For example, a student can explore a virtual laboratory instead of only viewing diagrams on a screen. Similarly, a tourist can virtually explore a heritage site before visiting it physically. The three most common forms of immersive technology are Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Collectively, these technologies are often referred to as Extended Reality (XR).

Other related tech, such as 360-degree video and Haptic Technology, also form part of the wider immersive technology ecosystem. 360-degree video allows users to view a scene in every direction. Users can change their viewing direction and explore different parts of the recorded environment. Haptic Technology uses vibrations, pressure or other physical sensations to provide touch-based feedback. It can make digital interactions feel more realistic by simulating physical sensations during virtual or interactive experiences.

Stepping Into the Experience: How India Is Using Immersive Technology

Researchers at IIT Madras are developing AR/VR-enabled learning solutions for rural schools. The initiative uses digital technologies to improve teaching and learning for secondary school students. It aims to create immersive, VR-based learning environments where students can explore subjects such as history, social science, science and languages through interactive experiences.

These technologies can make classroom learning more engaging. For example, an AR-based mobile application could bring 500 years of Indian history to life through animated photographs, interactive maps and archival documents. Similarly, VR simulations could allow students to explore the solar system or study the human body through three-dimensional models. By making abstract concepts easier to visualise and understand, these approaches can enrich learning and help students prepare for higher education.

The Government is using Extended Reality (XR) and other digital technologies to make India’s cultural heritage more accessible and engaging. The Ministry of Culture has adopted digital tools to improve visitor experiences and preserve information about museum collections. One such tool is JATAN software, which helps digitise museum artefacts and their records. So far, eight national-level museums and two Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) museums have been digitised using JATAN. Their collections are accessible through the Museums of India digital repository, enabling people to explore India’s heritage online.

Building on this digital foundation, museums are also introducing interactive experiences for visitors. The Indian Museum in Kolkata has introduced AI-based interactive features and AR tools to enrich gallery visits. It has also collaborated with Google Arts & Culture on a virtual exhibition showcasing cultural heritage through digital technology. Similarly, ASI museums at Hampi in Karnataka and Nalanda in Bihar offer mobile-based virtual tours of their collections. These initiatives help visitors explore artefacts digitally, making cultural experiences more engaging and accessible beyond the museum premises. Click for the Virtual Tour of the Indian Museum, Kolkata

Immersive technologies are also shaping how India plans and manages its infrastructure. The Department of Telecommunications launched the "Sangam: Digital Twin" initiative, combining digital twin technology with 5G, IoT, and AI for better infrastructure planning. Digital twin mapping is already supporting city planning, as seen in the Varanasi Urban 3D Spatial Planning project. By 2035, India aims to build a National Digital Twin for major urban centres, creating digital replicas to improve city planning and management.

Immersive technology is a growing part of India's media and entertainment sector, closely tied to the AVGC-XR framework. India's gaming sector is projected to grow from $3.8 billion in 2024 to $9.2 billion by FY29, according to an independent report, reflecting the scale of this emerging economy. National platforms such as the WAVES summit are further showcasing India's creative and immersive media capabilities to a global audience.

Powering Immersive Technology: India's Key Initiatives

Immersive technology is supported through the Government's broader AVGC-XR framework. This framework covers Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality. India's policy support for immersive technology comes as part of the larger, unified push, not as a standalone scheme. Click to Read More: Powering the AVGC-XR Revolution

The AVGC Promotion Task Force was constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in April 2022. It brings together representatives from the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) industry, academia and Government. The Task Force provides a platform for coordinated efforts to strengthen the sector’s growth and development. Its mandate is guided by three key principles. These include public-private collaboration, inter-ministerial convergence and an integrated approach to sectoral development.

On the Task Force's recommendation, the Government set up a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) to build skilled talent for the AVGC-XR sector. This took shape as the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), established in 2025. As of March 2026, IICT has introduced 18 courses across various domains of the AVGC-XR sector, with over 135 students enrolled.

Under the Union Budget 2026–27, the Government allocated ₹250 crore to establish Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, will serve as the nodal agency for planning, coordinating and implementing the initiative. These labs aim to equip students with practical skills in animation, visual effects, gaming and digital content creation. They will provide opportunities to develop creative ideas and gain hands-on experience using industry-relevant tools and technologies. The initiative seeks to nurture young talent and prepare students for emerging careers in India’s growing creative economy.

WaveX is a dedicated media-tech startup accelerator and incubator launched by the MIB. It supports startups working in AVGC-XR and other emerging media technologies. WaveX aims to help startups strengthen their technologies, develop market-ready solutions and explore global opportunities.

Way Forward

Immersive technologies represent more than a new entertainment medium. They are a strategic lever for India's creative economy, education system, and cultural preservation. As India strengthens its AVGC-XR ecosystem through coordinated national and state-level efforts, it is well-positioned to become a global hub for immersive content and innovation. This convergence of creativity and cutting-edge technology aligns closely with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, where a technologically empowered, self-reliant India leads in emerging sectors.

References:

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

• https://msh.meity.gov.in/schemes/genesis
• https://msh.meity.gov.in/network/startup
• https://msh.meity.gov.in/program/mshcorporate/xr-startup-program
• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1886679&reg=48&lang=2
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Ministry of Culture

• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2196913&reg=3&lang=1
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Ministry of Communications

• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2006275&reg=48&lang=2

Others

• https://estic2026.in/index.html
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• https://www.upes.ac.in/blog/computer-science/what-are-immersive-technologies-types-applications-benefits

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