This article first appeared in Olympics.com on December 28, 2022
In a major boost for online gaming in India, the Indian government has officially recognised esports as a part of multi-sports events.
Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, amended the rules and ordered India’s Department of Sports, which falls under the ambit of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, to act as the nodal agency for esports in the country.
Esports’ inclusion in the multi-sports category by the Indian government also means that the recognised esports tournaments might attain the same status as other offline sporting events in the country, like national-level tournaments.
The broader gaming industry and matters related to it, meanwhile, will be governed by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, as per the new amendment. The change clearly establishes esports as a separate entity from the broader category of online gaming like fantasy, rummy and casinos. These usually involve stakes.