The rules notified by the Ministry of Electronics and IT will operationalize the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
- The act categorizes online games as E-Sport, Online Social Games, and Online Money Games.
- It prohibits all forms of online money games (e.g., poker & fantasy sports), while only allowing “online social games” and e-sports.
Key Highlights of Rules
- Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI): It will be established to regulate online games, maintain registry, decide legality, impose penalties etc.
- It will have a chairperson and five other members from various government ministries.
- Registration of Games: Both social games and e-sports must register with the OGAI and seek a valid Certificate of Registration.
- 3-Tiered Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Every registered online game or e-sport provider must maintain a functional grievance redressal mechanism for user complaints.
- Appeals can be made to the Grievance Appellate Committee and then to the Authority.
- Violation: The draft rules propose to make violations a non-bailable offence and hold the entire company staff liable for facilitating any breach.
Article Sources
1 sourceAccording to ECI’s notification, penultimate round of EVM counting shall be taken up only after complete counting of Postal Ballots.
About Postal Ballot
- Allows voters to cast their votes on an electronically received postal ballot, Avoiding the need to visit polling stations physically.
- Legal Framework: Governed by Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and Representation of People Act, 1951.
- Eligibility: Service voters, special voters, absentee voters (seniors above 85, persons with disabilities, etc.) those under preventive detention, and election duty personnel.
- Service Voters include Members of the Armed Forces, central armed police forces, government servants posted abroad etc.
- Special voters include the President, Vice President, Governors, Cabinet Ministers, other high-ranking dignitaries, etc. and their spouses.
