New Delhi, 10 May 2025: At the WAVES 2025 Summit in Mumbai, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan made a bold announcement—India is no longer just a leader in film and music; it has officially become a Creator Nation. With over 100 million Indian YouTube channels uploading content in the past year and 15,000 channels surpassing one million subscribers, Mohan emphasized the country’s growing influence in the global digital landscape.
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Mohan revealed that YouTube has paid ₹21,000 crore to Indian creators, artists, and media companies over the past three years. To further accelerate this momentum, YouTube is committing an additional ₹850 crore over the next two years to support India’s creator economy.
This investment will focus on training, infrastructure, and partnerships, helping creators scale their businesses and reach international audiences.
Mohan highlighted how Indian content is engaging worldwide, with 45 billion hours of watch time from international viewers recorded last year. He credited YouTube’s ability to connect creators with audiences across world.
The WAVES Summit, hosted by India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, aims to position India as a global powerhouse in storytelling and digital innovation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched the event, reinforced the vision of “Create in India, Create for the World”, emphasizing the country’s rich storytelling heritage and its potential to shape global narratives.
