The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and streaming platform Netflix have jointly announced a scholarship programme supporting 100 students. The initiative offers financial assistance covering up to 80 percent of course fees across six creative industry training programmes, targeting both students and working professionals throughout India.
The programmes and support available
The scholarship covers six courses within IICT’s offerings. Students can pursue two one-year diploma programmes: Interactive Comics and Sequential Arts, or Visual Effects Mastery. Four six-month certificate programmes are also included: Virtual Art Department Content Creation, Media Tech Workflow, Art of Character Animation, and E-Sports and Gaming Management.
The initiative emerged following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos on 5 August 2026. The resulting Netflix India Storytelling Initiative aims to develop skilled professionals in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics sector, known as the AVGC ecosystem. Netflix has provided industry inputs specifically for the Visual Effects Mastery and Media Tech Workflow programmes to ensure they reflect current global standards and professional practices.
IICT, established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in partnership with the Maharashtra government, FICCI and CII, serves as India’s national centre of excellence for the AVGC-XR sector. The institute currently operates from Mumbai’s NFDC Complex on Pedder Road, with a permanent 10-acre campus under development at Film City, Goregaon.
What this means for you
If you are interested in animation, visual effects, gaming or comics, this scholarship significantly lowers the cost barrier to professional training. The programmes combine classroom learning with curriculum shaped by Netflix’s industry expertise, meaning skills taught reflect what employers actually need. Both students and working professionals across India are eligible, so career switchers can also apply. More details about eligibility, application deadlines and selection criteria are available on the IICT website.