With reference to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, consider the following statements: 1) The rules permit online money games provided they are based on skill rather than chance. 2) Banks and financial intermediaries are exempt from any obligation related to online gaming transactions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation

Both statements are incorrect. The PIB note on the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 says the framework distinguishes prohibited online money games from permissible e-sports and online social games. It further explains that online money games involve financial stakes and may be based on chance, skill, or both. The ban is therefore not limited to games of chance: it covers all online money games, including skill-based ones, along with their advertising, promotion and facilitation. The second statement also fails because the PIB note says banks and payment systems are barred from processing transactions linked to such games, while the Online Gaming Authority of India coordinates with financial institutions for enforcement.

Why the other options are wrong

• (A) Statement 1 is wrong because the rules do not permit skill-based online money games; the prohibition covers money games based on chance, skill, or any mix of the two.
• (B) Statement 2 is wrong because banks and payment systems have transaction-related duties and are barred from processing transactions linked to prohibited online money games.
• (C) Both statements cannot be correct because the rules ban all online money games and place enforcement-linked obligations on financial intermediaries rather than exempting them.

Concept

This tests regulatory governance under new digital-economy rules, especially the distinction between permissible online gaming and prohibited online money gaming. It recurs in RAS because such questions combine current legislation, institutional design and consumer-protection regulation.

Source

• Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Related questions

• A bill to amend the Constitution can be introduced:
• A bill under Article 3 for the formation of a new State requires:
• A CAG audit of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) revealed that what percentage of beneficiaries had blank, zero, Null or N/A bank-account details?
• A Financial Emergency under Article 360 must be approved by Parliament within:
• A joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament can be summoned under which Article?
• A joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament under Article 108 can be called to resolve a deadlock on: