Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 1: The newly enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which recently received Presidential assent after being passed in both houses of Parliament, is set to be notified soon, confirmed Electronics and IT Secretary S. Krishnan on Monday.
Speaking at an event hosted by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) on the semiconductor industry, Krishnan said the government is taking all the required steps to ensure the law is implemented without delay.
Introduced during the Monsoon Session by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Online Gaming Bill, 2025 aims to ban all forms of online money gaming, including offering, operating, promoting, advertising, or participating in such games. At the same time, the legislation provides a framework to regulate and promote esports, educational, and social games.
According to the Bill, "esports" are defined as organised, competitive multiplayer games involving individuals or teams, which are officially recognised under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 as part of multi-sport events.
The legislation has already had an impact on the industry. Major online money gaming platforms such as Dream11, PokerBaazi, and RummyCircle have suspended their money-based contests, aligning with the upcoming legal framework.
India's Semiconductor Milestone
In a significant development on the technology front, secretary Krishnan also revealed that India’s first commercially built semiconductor chip is expected to be launched later this year, calling it a "matter of pride" for the country.
This aligns with the government’s broader push to position India as a global electronics manufacturing hub. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier stated that India is rapidly building end-to-end capabilities to produce everything from semiconductors and cover glasses to laptops and servers.
At the inauguration of India’s first tempered glass manufacturing facility in Noida, Vaishnaw highlighted the impressive growth of the electronics sector, noting that:
• Production has grown 6x in 11 years, reaching Rs 11.5 lakh crore
• Exports have crossed Rs 3 lakh crore
• The sector now provides direct and indirect employment to 2.5 million people
He emphasized that value addition is steadily improving, and the country’s electronics ecosystem is maturing rapidly.
The new facility in Noida is a joint venture between US-based Corning Incorporated and Optiemus Electronics, and will manufacture premium tempered glass under the globally recognized “Engineered by Corning” brand—further strengthening India's domestic manufacturing capabilities.