While the members of the Lok Sabha asked several questions regarding problems related to online gaming, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar confirmed that no time limit will be imposed on online games in India.
Two MPs Vishnu Datt Sharma and Bhagirath Choudhary asked the IT Minister about the government’s take on the popularity of violent video games among children. Apart from that, they also asked if India is planning to impose a three hours time limit per week on the under 18 gamers.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar ensured the parliament that the government is aware of all the side effects that come with online gaming.
The policies of the Government are aimed at ensuring an Open, Safe and Trusted and Accountable Internet for its users. With the expansion of the Internet and more and more Indians coming online, the potential for Indians being exposed to content depicting violence has grown. Online game content too is one among various categories of online content offered by online gaming platform intermediaries, which is picking up around the world, including among children and adolescents in India. The Government is aware of the possible risks and challenges associated with the online games including that of violence abetting video games, addiction to it, and consequential financial loss.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ministry of Information Technology
The IT Minister also noted that the risk of exposure to violence has grown as a result of online gaming and stated that the IT Rules, 2021 were prepared to handle online gaming facilitators in such situations.
Recently, China introduced a new rule under which the under-18 player will only be able to play online games between 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and on public holidays. However, India has no plan to implement such time limits.
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