Esports recognised as multi-sports event by Indian government
The esports industry will be governed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
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.
While online gaming is a loose term referring to playing any video game regardless of platform or level, esports refers to competitive video gaming.
Esports, in India, and across the world, has gained prominence in recent times. Earlier this year, the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham included esports as a pilot event.
Esports will also debut at the postponed Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, as a medal event after being held as a demonstrative sport in 2018.
In November 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also confirmed that its inaugural Olympic Esports Week will take place in Singapore between June 22 and 25 in 2023.