NEW DELHI: Organisers of the Hornbill festival in Nagaland to Bihu in Assam, from Ram Leela in North India to Garba nights in Gujarat, musical concerts and cultural performances, among others, will no longer need to seek clearances from multiple authorities. Those organising live events will soon be able to go online to check venue availability, capacity, pre-approved licences, and get clearance within 15 days through a new single-window digital portal being rolled out by the information and broadcasting ministry.This was decided at the joint working group meeting — renamed Live Events Development Cell — this week to make event organisation in India faster, simpler and more transparent.The cell brings together central ministries, nine state govts, leading industry associations and stakeholders under a common framework to streamline permissions, promote creative employment and establish India as a global live entertainment hub. “The portal, expected to go live by Oct-end, will provide end-to-end digital facilitation — from checking available venues and seating capacities to verifying pre-cleared licences and applicable tariffs,” said senior I&B ministry officials, adding that this has been done to remove redundant permissions and overlapping approvals that have long delayed event organisation in the country. The live events industry, valued at over Rs 20,800 crore in FY25, grew 15% in the past year and is projected to double by 2030, according to a white paper, titled ‘India’s Live Events Economy: A Strategic Growth Imperative’, released earlier this year at the WAVES-2025 summit. The sector could generate 15-20 million direct and indirect jobs by 2030, spanning roles in logistics, hospitality, event management, performance and technical services.A model framework is also being prepared by the ministry to serve as a citizen charter, laying out time-bound clearances and grievance redressal mechanisms.The initiative follows PM Narendra Modi’s remarks at the Utkarsh Odisha Summit earlier this year, where he cited the example of international concerts, like Coldplay’s performances in India, as opportunities to harness the country’s growing youth-driven concert culture for economic, employment and cultural growth.The joint working group, chaired by the I&B Secretary, includes representatives from the ministries of culture, sports, skill development, DPIIT, finance, and tourism, as well as govts of Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi, Telangana, Karnataka, and others. Go to Source
