Indian Government Confirms That No Federation Has Officially Been Recognized for Esports

While presenting the financial Budget for 2022-2023, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that the government wants to focus on Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC). During the budget, she said that an AVGC promotion task force, with all stakeholders, will be set up to recommend ways to realize this and build domestic capacity for serving out markets and the global demand.

ESFI, EDAI and EI are not official esports bodies in India

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was questioned if the government on the following topics:

• If the government is aware of esports being a medal event in 2022’s Asian games

• If India is going to participate in the esports division of the upcoming event

• If the Government has plans to provide training facilities for the esports contingent in India

• If there is an official government organization for esports in India,

• What the government’s approach is regarding an official esports organization in India

Organizations like Electronic Sports Federation of India (ESFI), E-sports Development Association of India (EDAI), and E-sports India (EI) exist in India but they are not officially recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. ESFI claims to be “the national governing body for all esports in India”, but the organization among others, have no official recognition from the Indian government.

The promotion of specific sports disciplines is handled by the National Sports Federation and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports supplements the efforts of the NSF. This includes financial assistance and preparation for Indian participants in sporting events. At present, no federation or association has been recognized for esports by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur also stated that players / teams from India in Asian Games are sent by the Indian Olympic Association to the Organizing Committee of the Games. This includes esports.

With esports becoming a part of the Asian Games and the Indian government recognizing the potential of the gaming industry, it remains to be seen how the gaming and esports landscape develops in the country in the coming years.