The Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1 concluded today at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit – WAVES 2025 in Mumbai. The winners of 32 distinct challenges under the CIC were honoured at the Summit, spanning every domain of the media and entertainment industry, from animation, gaming, and filmmaking to AI, music, and digital art. More than 1 lakh participants registered for the challenge, with more than 1 thousand 100 international participants from over 60 countries. The Challenge provided a global platform for emerging talent and to showcase the vibrant creativity of young minds.

During the event, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called this a historic moment and said that for the first time, an award is being given purely for creativity. He highlighted that with this initiative, the creators are stepping into a world of new opportunities. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for I&B, Dr L Murugan, said that this platform is a beautiful example of how young minds are fusing creativity with technology. Talking to Akashvani News, Abaad Ahmed, a winner under the Waah Ustad category of music, said that WAVES has provided a platform for the growth and promotion of classical music.

Sanjai Senthil Kumar, a winner under the Unreal Cinematics Challenge category of Animation, told Akashvani News that the mentorship provided by WAVES will help him achieve his dream of being an effects artist and 3D journalist.