Highlights Of 'Online Gaming Bill'; Boost To India's Nuclear Deterrence; And More

Kick-start your morning with Swarajya’s Morning Brief – your news fix, curated for clarity and insight.

'Search And Arrest Without Warrant' And Six Other Highlights Of The 'Online Gaming Bill'

'The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025' was introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday. Here are seven highlights from the legislation:

1. Ban on Online Money Games – Any game involving payment of fees, deposits, or stakes in expectation of monetary returns (irrespective of being skill or chance-based) is prohibited. E-sports are excluded.

2. No Advertisements or Promotions – Advertising, promoting, or endorsing online money games through any media, including celebrity or influencer endorsements, is banned.

3. Financial Transactions Blocked – Banks and financial institutions are barred from processing payments related to online money gaming services.

4. Creation of a Central Authority – A statutory Authority will be set up to recognise, register, and regulate e-sports, educational games, and social games, and to decide whether a game qualifies as an illegal “online money game”.

5. Promotion of E-Sports & Social Gaming – The Bill formally recognises e-sports as a legitimate sport, supports training centres and research, and promotes safe social games for education, recreation, and skill development.

6. Strict Penalties – Offering online money games can attract up to three years imprisonment and fines up to Rs 1 crore. Repeat offenders face harsher penalties (up to 5 years jail and Rs 2 crore fines). Advertisement-related offences carry up to 2 years imprisonment and Rs 50 lakh–Rs 1 crore fines.

7. Search and Arrest Without Warrant – Violations related to offering or financing online money games are cognizable and non-bailable. Enforcement authorities are empowered with search, seizure, and arrest powers, including in digital/virtual spaces, WITHOUT a warrant.

The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday through a voice vote.

CSDS To Get Show Cause Notice From ICSSR Over "Manipulation" Of Maharashtra Election Data; FIR Against Sanjay Kumar

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) on Tuesday (20 August) said it would issue a show cause notice to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) after a senior academic at the institute, Sanjay Kumar, admitted to sharing incorrect data about voter numbers in two constituencies of Maharashtra.

Kumar, professor and co-director of Lokniti at CSDS, had posted on X that Ramtek and Devlali constituencies of Maharashtra witnessed a 36–38 per cent drop in voter numbers between last year’s Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state. The claim was later found to be inaccurate.

He later retracted the claim on X.

The ICSSR, which funds CSDS and functions under the Ministry of Education, accused the institute of “data manipulation” and attempting to undermine the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Meanwhile, an FIR was registered in Nagpur, Maharashtra, against Sanjay Kumar for allegedly spreading false information.

Russia Claims 'Special Mechanism' to Bypass US-EU Sanctions on India Oil Trade

Russia dismissed concerns Wednesday about US and European Union sanctions impacting oil supplies to India, with senior officials claiming Moscow possesses a "very special mechanism" to circumvent punitive measures imposed by the Trump administration targeting energy trade.

Russian chargé d'affaires Roman Babushkin and deputy trade commissioner Evgeny Griva expressed confidence that oil flows to India would remain largely unaffected despite escalating Western pressure on the strategic partnership.

The Russian officials were speaking hours after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for talks with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov and to co-chair a meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) with deputy prime minister Denis Manturov.

"This is not the first time our trade and economic relations [have been] threatened by external factors. But each and every time, we have managed to succeed in finding ways to cooperate further based on our mutual national interests. We are quite certain that our cooperation will continue," he declared.

Other developments

India Tests 5,000+ Km Range Agni-5 Missile in Nuclear Deterrence Boost

India on Wednesday (20 August) conducted successful test of its nuclear-capable Agni-5 ballistic missile.

The missile was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.

According to the Defence minister, the test, carried out under the "aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, validated all operational and technical parameters.

The missile, which uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine, is capable of striking targets at ranges over 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy.

The ballistic missile is part of the India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Hospitalised After Attack at Public Meeting; Attacker Turns Out To Be 'Dog Lover'

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was admitted to hospital on Wednesday (20 August) morning after being attacked during a public hearing at her residence.

The incident occurred when a man, said to be in his thirties, approached Gupta during a weekly ‘Jansunwai’ and attacked her.

CM Gupta's Security personnel quickly overpowered the assailant, who had disguised himself as a complainant at the public meeting, and he is currently under interrogation.

Following the attack, the Chief Minister was taken to hospital, while senior Delhi Police officials reached her residence to secure the area.

The Chief Minister holds a ‘Jansunwai’ at her residence every week to listen to and address citizens’ grievances.

The attacker of Delhi Chief Minister has been identified as Rajesh Sakriya, a native of Rajkot, Gujarat. Following police contact with his family, his mother Bhanu revealed to media that her son is passionate about dogs and was distressed by the Supreme Court's recent order mandating the picking up of stray dogs in Delhi NCR for relocation to shelters.

India Rejects Nepal's Claims Over Lipulekh Pass Trade Resumption

The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday condemned Nepal's objections to the resumption of India-China trade through the Lipulekh pass, dismissing Kathmandu's territorial claims as unjustified and lacking historical basis.

The diplomatic row erupted after the KP Sharma Oli-led Nepali government issued a statement asserting that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River are "integral parts of Nepal" according to the country's constitutional map.

Nepal's foreign ministry had urged India to refrain from activities in what it considers Nepali territory, including road construction and border trade. The statement also claimed China had been informed that the area belongs to Nepal.

"As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable," the Indian government stated.

The MEA clarified that India has been "consistent and clear" regarding the disputed territory, emphasizing that border trade through Lipulekh pass began in 1954 and continued for decades.

"This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it," the MEA added, referring to the India-China agreement announced during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to New Delhi.

You’re all caught up. Until next time.