President Droupadi Murmu amended the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 on December 23, 2022, assigning online gaming to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and e-Sports to the Department of Sports. The change was made through notification S.O. 6062(E), published in the Gazette of India on December 26, 20221.
The notification inserts two new entries into the Second Schedule of the rules. Under the heading for MeitY, entry 5A covers "Matters relating to online gaming." Under the sub-heading for the Department of Sports, entry 2A covers "e-Sports as part of multi-sports events."1
The rules were made under clause (3) of article 77 of the Constitution, which gives the President power to make rules for the allocation of government business. The amendment is formally titled the Government of India (Allocation of Business) (Three Hundred and Seventieth Amendment) Rules, 2022, and states that it comes into force at once1.
"5A. Matters relating to online gaming."
The notification draws a distinction between the two activities. Online gaming as a whole goes to MeitY, while e-Sports is assigned to the Department of Sports only as part of multi-sports events1. The notification does not define online gaming, set out any licensing or tax framework, or state how the two categories will be separated in practice. Those details have not been reported in the notification.
What it means for players
The amendment is an administrative step: it decides which part of the central government handles online gaming and e-Sports. It does not by itself legalize, ban or regulate any game, and it does not change the rules that apply to real-money gambling in India. Players in India, including expats and visitors, are still subject to the existing gambling laws in Asia and the country-specific position set out in Can I Gamble in India?.
What changes is which ministry answers questions about online gaming. MeitY now holds that file, which matters for any future rules on skill games, real-money platforms or consumer protection. E-Sports being placed with the Department of Sports, and only as part of multi-sports events, suggests it will be treated as sport rather than as gambling, though the notification does not say so directly.
No enforcement powers, penalties or compliance duties for operators or players are created by this notification. Anyone looking for the practical effect of India's online gaming restrictions should read What India's Online Gaming Ban Means for Players.
What happens next
The notification states the rules come into force at once1. No further steps, timelines or follow-up rules are set out in the notification, and none have been reported.
