Context
The Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council and online gaming firm Winzo have jointly released India Gaming Report 2024.
Key Findings
- Annual Revenue: The annual revenue for gaming is projected to attain USD 6 billion by 2028.
- Mobile gaming contributes to 90 percent of the gaming market in India in comparison to around 37 percent and about 62 percent in the US and China.
- Among the gaming community, nearly 50 percent fall in the age limit of 18 to 30 years.
- Job Demand: The Indian gaming sector is currently witnessing a surge in demand for talent, with job openings starting from 50,000 to 60,000 across diverse roles, which includes builders, programmers, testers, artists, and customer support.
India’s Gaming Sector
- India is the sector’s largest mobile gaming marketplace in terms of App downloads.
- The sector is anticipated to grow by 20% by FY25 to reach INR 231 Bn.
- Indian gaming raised $2.8 Bn from domestic/international investors in the remaining five years.
- India has produced 3 gaming unicorns: Game 24X7, Dream11 and Mobile Premier League.
- It is broadly estimated that AI and online gaming can add up to $300 billion to India’s GDP by 2026-27.
Government Initiatives
- Digital Gaming Research Initiative: The government has commenced a digital gaming research initiative, and the SERB-INAE Conclave was organised recently to assist the Indian digital gaming research space and industry.
- The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology has diagnosed 3 predominant instructions for its Digital Gaming Research Initiative – R&D in learning and leisure gaming structures, immersive recreation prototypes with an emphasis on Indian culture and values, and a collaborative technical design technique, which was made by SERB Game Labs.
- AVGC Promotion Task Force: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has established the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) Promotion Task Force.
- The government recognizes that the Indian AVGC enterprise has the potential to carry the “Make in India” and “Brand India” banners.
Regulation of Industry
- At present, there is no uniform federal regulation regulating the talent gaming enterprise in India.
- The Public Gambling Act, 1867 and Prize Competitions Act, 1955 presently govern India’s on-line gaming enterprise at the federal degree even as varying legislation in one of a kind Indian states supersede those Acts.
- This is due to the fact state governments in India are empowered by way of the charter to legislate on playing.
- Recently the government decision to appoint the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as the nodal ministry for online gaming in India has finally provided legitimacy to the sector.
- The government will rapidly draft guidelines for intermediaries in the online gambling industry and initiate a public consultation method.
Way Ahead
- In recent instances, India has witnessed an actual uptick in e-sports, console gaming, cell gaming, and game development, this growth was substantially aided by the pandemic.
- Future boom inside the Indian gaming enterprise may be brought about as a result of speedy digitalisation and trade, rising net utilization, and growing mobile phone penetration.
- Gaming reports will keep advancing and ultimately assist the Indian gaming industry attain remarkable heights.
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q.India needs a robust policy framework to unleash the potential of its online gaming sector. Elucidate. (250 words)
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