Rajya Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, Thursday without a discussion, a day after Lok Sabha cleared it. On the last day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the House also adopted a motion moved by Home Minister Amit Shah to refer the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill to a joint committee of Parliament.
After an uproar in Lok Sabha Wednesday over bills that seek to remove Central and state ministers who face allegations of corruption or serious offences and have been detained for at least 30 days, Lok Sabha referred them to a joint committee. Shah’s motion in Rajya Sabha Thursday was adopted amidst a ruckus from Opposition members.
With the din continuing, along with some members holding placards, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw moved a motion for consideration of the Online Gaming Bill. It prohibits the offering of online games in India, failing which those doing so can be imprisoned for up to three years, and/or pay a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.
“Online gaming has turned into an important sector in the digital world. There are three segments to it. The Bill promotes e-sports, and online social games. This is two-thirds of the online gaming segment. But there is a third segment — online money games. This is becoming a problem in society, particularly among the middle-class youth,” he said.
He added, “It becomes an addiction, and family savings are lost. Online money gaming has now become a public health risk. It gives rise to psychological disorders, compulsive behaviour, withdrawal symptoms, violent behaviour… This problem is now similar to that of drugs, which is why strict measures need to be taken.”
Amidst continued sloganeering from the Opposition, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, addressing Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, said, “I request you to listen to us. You dismiss our points, we don’t bother. But, at least, give us a chance to say what we have to. This is wrong.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “They (Opposition members) don’t speak on the subject… In this entire Monsoon Session, you all did not cooperate. Time was given for discussion on the Bills. Time was set in the Business Advisory Committee. But you don’t talk. And then, they are alleging today that they don’t get a chance to speak. This is wrong, I condemn it.”
Rijiju added, “They are not participating in it (discussion on the Online Gaming Bill). They are disturbing; nobody is able to speak, nobody can hear. We request that the Bill be passed… Discussion is not happening because of the Opposition’s hungama. It’s an important Bill for society, for the youth.”
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The clauses of the Bill were put to a vote amid sloganeering from the Opposition, and the Bill was passed.
Productivity of 38.88 per cent, says Deputy Chairman
In his valedictory remarks, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said, “Despite the best efforts of the Chair to facilitate meaningful and disruption-free discussion on the listed business, the session was regrettably marred by repeated disruptions leading to frequent adjournments. This not only resulted in the loss of precious parliamentary time, but also deprived us of the opportunity to deliberate upon several matters of public importance.”
He added, “Overall, the House functioned only for 41 hours and 15 minutes. The productivity of the session stood at a disappointing 38.88 per cent… Something that calls for serious introspection.”
Members had the opportunity to raise 285 questions, 285 zero-hour submissions, and 285 special mentions, he said.
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“However, only 14 questions, seven zero-hour submissions, and 61 special mentions could actually be taken up. While these contributions are of value, they represent only a fraction of what this august House is capable of achieving when it functions to its full potential,” he added.
A total of 15 Bills were passed or returned during the session.
