YouTube Commits Rs 850 Cr to Support India's Creator Nation' Vision: Neal Mohan

At the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan made a strong case for India's digital creator economy, announcing a Rs 850 crore investment over the next two years to deepen the platform's commitment to "the world's leading Creator Nation."

Speaking to a packed house of global creators, policymakers, and industry leaders, Mohan said, "India isn't just a world leader in film and music; it's quickly becoming what I'm excited to call a 'Creator Nation.'"

Mohan used data to illustrate how YouTube has revolutionized the content economy in India. In India, more than 100 million channels posted videos in the last 12 months, and more than 15,000 of those channels attracted one million subscribers. More significantly, he disclosed that over Rs 21,000 crore was made by Indian media companies, artists, and creators on YouTube in just the previous three years.

"From Patna to Pune, creators have used video to launch real businesses and build global fan bases. "Our ability to connect a creator anywhere with an audience anywhere is changing lives," Mohan explained.

He emphasized YouTube's growing role as a platform for India's soft power. "Last year alone, content made in India generated over 45 billion hours of watch time from international audiences," he said, describing YouTube as a cultural export engine with global resonance.

Mohan's announcement was welcomed by Indian officials and business executives at WAVES 2025, an initiative aimed at establishing India as a global hub for entertainment and media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's main message earlier in the day, in which he encouraged foreign artists to "make India your playground" and draw inspiration from the country's rich storytelling traditions, was consistent with his comments.

According to Mohan, the Rs 850 crore investment will be used to train new creators, expand monetization pathways, and strengthen regional content ecosystems, particularly in non-metropolitan and vernacular markets.

With India's digital video landscape expected to exceed half a billion users, YouTube's commitment is a sign of where the next phase of global creator innovation may be headed, and it speaks in an Indian accent.