India To Introduce 'Proper Policy' That Might Include New Law On Online Gaming Soon: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Vaishnaw said that he recently had a meeting with the Information Technology Ministers of all the States who were concerned over the effect of online gaming.

Vaishnaw also said that the Centre is coming up with Data Bill and Digital India Bill.

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Bengaluru: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said the Centre would come out with a proper policy or a new law on online gaming given the impact it has on society.

During an interaction with reporters here, Vaishnaw, who holds the Railways, Communication and Information Technology portfolio, recalled that recently he had a meeting with the Information Technology Ministers of all the States, who were concerned over the effect of online gaming.

“Every State has shown serious concern about the impact online gaming is having on society, particularly the addictive part of it -- people are getting addicted, people are weirdly exhibiting behaviour not within social norms, which is affecting harmony of society,” Vaishnaw said.

“That's why we have taken up a very serious consultation process with all stakeholders. We will be able to come up with a proper policy very soon which might even involve a new law or a regulation,” he explained.

He also said the Centre is coming up with Data Bill and Digital India Bill. According to him, Data Bill has evoked a good response and it will become a template for the world.

Regarding Digital India Bill, he said it is being drafted.

Meanwhile, a recent report has noted that the gaming industry is likely to add one lakh new jobs by 2022-23, across domains, including programming, testing, animation and design, according to a report.

The sector is likely to grow by 20-30 per cent and add one lakh direct and indirect new jobs by FY23, TeamLease Digital said in a report - Gaming: Tomorrow's Blockbuster. Currently, the sector directly employs about 50,000 people of which 30 per cent of the workforce are programmers and developers. 

Over the next year, the sector will add new jobs across domains like programming (game developers, unity developers), testing (games test engineering, QA lead), animation (animators), design (motion graphic designers, virtual reality designers), artist (VFX and concept artists) and other miscellaneous roles (content writers, gaming journalists, web analyst).

(With inputs from PTI)