Consumer affairs ministry cancels e-gaming study planned for framing new rules

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The department of consumer affairs (DoCA) has decided to withdraw from framing guidelines for e-gaming and cancelled a planned study for protecting the growing number of online gamers, two people aware of the developmen said, after draft rules were issued by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY). Bengaluru’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) was to conduct the study on “disruptive impulse control behavioural patterns of online gaming that may cause vulnerabilities," with the plan to notify new rules after the completion of the detailed pan-India study.

The study, which was planned during the tenure of former consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, was set to cost the department ₹20 crore, with funds to be allocated to Nimhans. Also read | ‘Move to recognize esports will give global exposure’ This comes in the backdrop of MeitY issuing draft rules for e-gaming, with the Centre of the view that sufficient reference studies on the impact of online gaming are available from other countries. “There are enough studies and research papers available that can be utilized for preparing the guidelines.

MeitY is working on it in a very positive manner, and there should not be any duplicity of work," one of the two persons mentioned above said. As per the plan, the findings of the research were to be used to frame guidelines for protecting consumers in online gaming. The report was also supposed to assist the industry in ensuring the optimal use of technology to minimize risks.