Lok Sabha Question No. 48 (STARRED), answered on 2021-02-04
Subject: Gaming and e-Sports Policy
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *48

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2021

Gaming and e-Sports Policy

## *48.     SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to introduce Gaming and e-Sports Policy in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any plans to bring the sports and  gaming  in  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any estimates on the size/value of the gaming industry in India and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans or taken any steps to regulate/curb illegal gaming, betting and gambling in India, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  or  has  any plan to introduce educational gaming and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI KIREN RIJIJU]

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E)  OF  THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 48 FOR 04/02/2021 REGARDING GAMING AND e-SPORTS POLICY ASKED BY SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL,

MP. (a) to (e): e-Sports is an emerging platform for the youth population in the  country.  There  are  large  numbers  of  e-Sports  enthusiasts  in  our country. It is included in Asian Games 2022 as a medal sport discipline but not yet included in the Olympics. e-Sports  is  different  from  gaming  or  igaming  and  gambling,  etc.  as former is skill based while latters are chance based. In India, there are some Federations such as Electronic Sports Federation of India (ESFI), E-sports  Development  Association  of  India  (EDAI)  and  E-sports  India (EI),  which  have  emerged  for  promotion  of  e-Sports.  Currently,  no Federations/Associations  have  been  recognized  by  Ministry  of  Youth Affairs & Sports. 'Sports' being a State subject, the primary responsibility fordevelopment and promotion of sports rests with the respectiveState/UT Government. The Department of Sports supplements  efforts  of  theState/UT  Government  through  its  various schemes. Presently, there is no proposal under consideration to bring sports and gaming to concurrent list. Betting and Gambling is a State Subject (Entry at serial number 34 in the List II- State List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India), therefore, the State authorities are responsible to regulate/curb illegal gaming,  betting  and  gambling  in  their  respective  States.  The  Law Commission in its Report No. 276 titled ' Legal Framework: Gambling and  Sports  Betting  including Cricket in India'  submitted  to  the Government  on  5 th   July,  2018,  stated  that  legalizing  betting  and gambling is not desirable in India in the present scenario. As regards estimated value/size of gaming Industry in India, no such study has been carried out by the Government.

*****