India drafting rules to restrict time children can spend on gaming apps

The ministry of electronics and IT is drafting new rules to limit the amount of time children can spend on a gaming app and may also mandate gaming firms to submit anonymized reports on such usage. The government may also introduce provisions requiring gaming companies to install mechanisms that prevent in-game purchases by anyone below the age of 18.The provisions are likely to be a part of the upcoming Digital India Act.

Why it’s important: The intention is to check addiction to gaming, especially among children, and will be in addition to draft rules already released for gaming in general. Whether these will be effective remains to be seen. Moneycontrol