The Indian Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector continues its robust growth, with startups in the domain crossing the 2,400 mark, as officially recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). These M&E startups now constitute 1.46% of the total 168,504 startups recognized across India since the inception of the Startup India program.
According to DPIIT data, within the 2,458 recognized M&E startups, the Entertainment sub-sector leads with 693 startups (28%), closely followed by Digital Media with 591 startups (24%). The Digital Media category includes various segments reflecting changing consumption habits: Digital Media News (205), Digital Media Video (185), Digital Media Publishing (172), and Digital Media Blogging (30).
Other significant contributors include Social Media (5%), Movies (6%), and Out-of-Home (OOH) Media (2%). Notably, 11% of M&E startups fall under an “Others” category, indicating niche and innovative ventures.
The number of M&E startups recognized by DPIIT has shown a consistent upward trend, with a significant increase observed from 2021 onwards: 2021 (320 certifications), 2022 (357), and 2023 (443). While there was a slight dip in 2024 (268) and until March 2025 (120), the overall trajectory highlights the increasing formalization of M&E startups to access government incentives and investor networks.
Launched in 2016, the Startup India initiative has played a crucial role in fostering innovation. The M&E sector, initially slower in adopting formal recognition, has witnessed exponential growth in certifications, from 96 in 2017 to over 2,400 by 2025.
A recent Deloitte and Motion Picture Association study indicated that India’s M&E industry contributed ₹5.14 lakh crore to the economy in FY24 and is projected to reach ₹6.88 lakh crore by FY29, employing 2.7 million people last year with an expected rise to over 3 million by 2029.
Key Highlights:
- Over 2,400 Media & Entertainment startups are now recognized by DPIIT, making up 1.46% of India’s total recognized startups.
- The Entertainment and Digital Media sub-sectors have the highest number of M&E startups.
- The recognition of M&E startups by DPIIT has seen a significant increase since 2021.
- India’s overall M&E sector is a significant contributor to the economy and employment.
