When announcing the budget measure, Goyal noted that the government wanted to promote the industry since it is a major employment generator. Indeed, by 2017, India’s film industry employed nearly 250,000 people, up significantly from 160,800 four years earlier, according to consultancy Deloitte.

The government is also taking steps to curb piracy—a much-needed move considering India loses $2.5 billion to online movie piracy annually. Anti-camcording provisions will be introduced in the Cinematograph Act as well, said Goyal.

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