The Centre has exhorted the gaming industry to tackle challenges such as addiction, misuse of in-app chats for anti-India activities, and money laundering, while assuring that the new promotion and regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 will enable responsible growth, said people aware of the matter.
At a stakeholder meeting with the Indian Digital Gaming & Esports Society (IDGES) in Mumbai on Friday, Sanjay Jaju, information and broadcasting secretary said the government views gaming as a key pillar of the creative economy but stressed that any expansion must happen within clear boundaries.
“The objective of the new Act is to ensure responsible growth,” said Jaju. “At the same time, there is a need to address concerns such as gaming addiction, especially among children, and the misuse of in-app chats for anti-India activities. Issues of content suitability, age rating, age gating, and the risks of money laundering also must be dealt with.”
During the meeting, IDGES, an industry body affiliated with the Confederation of Indian Industry, pledged support towards building a sustainable ecosystem that contributes to the economy.
The law prohibits real-money gaming while promoting esports and social games. Section 4 outlines the Centre’s role in recognising, categorising, and registering online virtual games, and in supporting their development for recreational and educational purposes.
Regulation of the law has been split across ministries: the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology manages gaming rules, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) oversees content and advertising, while the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports handles esports.
IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who also holds the I&B portfolio, had consulted stakeholders, with the detailed rules currently being drafted.
“A lot of inputs were taken in terms of how we ensure proportionate, MSME-friendly, privacy-by-design, outcome-oriented compliance so that regulation remains practical and does not come in the way of innovation in this very important segment,” said Jaju.
He urged companies to support at least one India-first intellectual property each year that reflects the country’s cultural heritage. He also sought industry support in co-designing short, stackable modules to bridge hiring gaps and bring interns and apprentices into the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) framework.
Jaju highlighted Waves’ initiatives for the M&E industry including game developers. He said Waves Bazaar marketplace will connect developers with publishers and investors, with the MIB set to host 20 global events after recent editions in Melbourne, Sydney, Busan, and Toronto.
WaveX will provide incubation centres, mentorship, and investor access to help developers turn prototypes into market-ready products. Jaju urged the industry to adopt Waves Bazaar at scale and support a proposed Games Deal framework on the lines of OTT platforms.
Kaustubh Davse, chief advisor to the Maharashtra chief minister proposed the creation of an India Gaming Mission, modelled on the India Solar Mission, to make India a global leader in gaming and esports.
He also suggested setting up a ₹500-crore fund in collaboration with MIB and the Maharashtra government to back innovation, skill development, infrastructure, and investments in the sector.
At a stakeholder meeting with the Indian Digital Gaming & Esports Society (IDGES) in Mumbai on Friday, Sanjay Jaju, information and broadcasting secretary said the government views gaming as a key pillar of the creative economy but stressed that any expansion must happen within clear boundaries.
“The objective of the new Act is to ensure responsible growth,” said Jaju. “At the same time, there is a need to address concerns such as gaming addiction, especially among children, and the misuse of in-app chats for anti-India activities. Issues of content suitability, age rating, age gating, and the risks of money laundering also must be dealt with.”
During the meeting, IDGES, an industry body affiliated with the Confederation of Indian Industry, pledged support towards building a sustainable ecosystem that contributes to the economy.
The law prohibits real-money gaming while promoting esports and social games. Section 4 outlines the Centre’s role in recognising, categorising, and registering online virtual games, and in supporting their development for recreational and educational purposes.
Regulation of the law has been split across ministries: the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology manages gaming rules, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) oversees content and advertising, while the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports handles esports.
IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who also holds the I&B portfolio, had consulted stakeholders, with the detailed rules currently being drafted.
“A lot of inputs were taken in terms of how we ensure proportionate, MSME-friendly, privacy-by-design, outcome-oriented compliance so that regulation remains practical and does not come in the way of innovation in this very important segment,” said Jaju.
He urged companies to support at least one India-first intellectual property each year that reflects the country’s cultural heritage. He also sought industry support in co-designing short, stackable modules to bridge hiring gaps and bring interns and apprentices into the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) framework.
Jaju highlighted Waves’ initiatives for the M&E industry including game developers. He said Waves Bazaar marketplace will connect developers with publishers and investors, with the MIB set to host 20 global events after recent editions in Melbourne, Sydney, Busan, and Toronto.
WaveX will provide incubation centres, mentorship, and investor access to help developers turn prototypes into market-ready products. Jaju urged the industry to adopt Waves Bazaar at scale and support a proposed Games Deal framework on the lines of OTT platforms.
Kaustubh Davse, chief advisor to the Maharashtra chief minister proposed the creation of an India Gaming Mission, modelled on the India Solar Mission, to make India a global leader in gaming and esports.
He also suggested setting up a ₹500-crore fund in collaboration with MIB and the Maharashtra government to back innovation, skill development, infrastructure, and investments in the sector.
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