India's Sports Policy restructuring overlooks esports
The current relationship between esports and the National Sports Policy in India presents a complex and somewhat contradictory picture. While the National Sports Policy 2025 has explicitly excluded esports, the government has taken steps to recognise and invest in the growing sector.
The National Sports Policy 2025, approved by the Union Cabinet, aims to overhaul India's sports framework with an emphasis on physical activity, international competitiveness, and preparing for the 2036 Olympic Games. Despite the rapid growth and economic significance of esports, it has been left out of this policy, sparking criticism from industry stakeholders who see it as a missed opportunity to leverage India's gaming potential. The policy development process involved extensive consultations, but esports was not incorporated, reflecting a preference for traditional sports disciplines.
The exclusion appears tied to the policy’s focus on physical sports and preparations for events like the Olympics, which currently do not officially include esports as a medal event. Additionally, there remains a social stigma and misunderstanding around esports, often conflated with betting and gambling due to the presence of real-money gaming apps. This lack of clarity and lingering negative publicity have contributed to esports being sidelined.
However, the Indian government has made positive gestures toward esports. In February 2025, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports extended its cash-incentive program—traditionally for Olympic and Commonwealth medalists—to include esports athletes and coaches. The Department of Sports, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, was designated the nodal agency for esports, while the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology governs broader gaming-related matters. There is a coordinated regulatory approach between these ministries to align esports governance.
Indian esports athletes are encouraged to participate in international esports events like the Olympic Esports Games 2027 in Saudi Arabia. High-profile tournaments such as the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2025 receive government attention, underscoring esports' growing domestic importance.
Industry leaders, however, highlight the need for clearer policy support and differentiation between skill-based esports and betting/gambling apps. The lack of formal recognition in the NSP 2025 has been described as a setback, reflecting an ongoing need for greater understanding and acceptance within government circles.
In summary, while the Indian government has not formally recognised esports within the flagship National Sports Policy 2025 due to its emphasis on physical sports and Olympic goals, it has nonetheless taken notable steps in investment, support, and regulatory structuring for esports. The division in policy likely stems from the existing social stigma, regulatory complexities, and the traditional view of sports, but official incentives and nodal agency appointments signal a cautious but positive trajectory for esports development in India.
- The Indian government, despite excluding esports from the National Sports Policy 2025, has shown a positive inclination towards the sector, extending cash incentives to esports athletes and coaches, and designating the Department of Sports as the nodal agency for esports.
- Amidst the growing significance of esports in India, industry leaders call for clearer policy support, differentiating skill-based esports from betting and gambling apps, emphasizing that the lack of formal recognition in the NSP 2025 reflects an ongoing need for greater understanding and acceptance within government circles.
