UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Regulation, not bans, can protect online gamers
Q1. Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, what is the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed for offering online money gaming services?
- A. Three years
- B. Two years
- C. Five years
- D. One year
Q2. With reference to the provisions of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, consider the following statements:
1. Online money games are prohibited whether they are based on skill or on chance.
2. Advertising of online money games is a punishable offence.
3. E-sports may be recognised and registered by the central government.
4. Online social games are banned on the same footing as online money games.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Online money games are prohibited whether they are based on skill or on chance.
- Advertising of online money games is a punishable offence.
- E-sports may be recognised and registered by the central government.
- Online social games are banned on the same footing as online money games.
- A. 1 and 4
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q3. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 came into force with effect from which one of the following dates?
- A. 1 May 2026
- B. 22 August 2025
- C. 1 April 2026
- D. 21 August 2025
Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 with the Rules made under it:
1. The Bill was passed by Parliament in August 2025, while the Rules took effect on 1 May 2026.
2. MeitY is the nodal ministry for the Act, and the Online Gaming Authority of India set up under the Rules is an attached office of MeitY.
3. Recognition of e-sports under the Rules is linked to the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Bill was passed by Parliament in August 2025, while the Rules took effect on 1 May 2026.
- MeitY is the nodal ministry for the Act, and the Online Gaming Authority of India set up under the Rules is an attached office of MeitY.
- Recognition of e-sports under the Rules is linked to the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the CUTS International survey on behavioural change after the online gaming ban:
1. The survey covered former real-money gaming users in Delhi NCR, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
2. Post-ban offshore usage was higher in Maharashtra than in either Tamil Nadu or Delhi.
3. Offshore participation rose by about 18 percentage points after the Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The survey covered former real-money gaming users in Delhi NCR, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
- Post-ban offshore usage was higher in Maharashtra than in either Tamil Nadu or Delhi.
- Offshore participation rose by about 18 percentage points after the Act.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. With reference to the findings of the CUTS International report on the online gaming ban, consider the following statements:
1. The report was titled 'Behavioural Reallocation after the Online Gaming Ban'.
2. The survey sample comprised 3,000 former real-money gaming users.
3. Daily offshore gaming rose from roughly 2-3% to over 40% after the ban.
4. Every surveyed user in all three states moved entirely to offshore platforms.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The report was titled 'Behavioural Reallocation after the Online Gaming Ban'.
- The survey sample comprised 3,000 former real-money gaming users.
- Daily offshore gaming rose from roughly 2-3% to over 40% after the ban.
- Every surveyed user in all three states moved entirely to offshore platforms.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q7. With reference to the enforcement action against online gambling/betting websites after the online gaming ban, consider the following statements:
1. MeitY blocks such sites under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
2. Enforcement targets service providers and promoters rather than individual players.
3. Offshore platforms remain accessible through mirror domains and domestic UPI payments.
4. Website blocking is carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- MeitY blocks such sites under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- Enforcement targets service providers and promoters rather than individual players.
- Offshore platforms remain accessible through mirror domains and domestic UPI payments.
- Website blocking is carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q8. In the context of enforcement against banned online money-gaming platforms, the term 'mirror domain' most precisely refers to which one of the following?
- A. An alternative web address that hosts the same blocked platform to circumvent a blocking order
- B. A domain registered abroad that mirrors a licensed Indian gaming operator's brand
- C. A backup server that stores encrypted copies of user transaction data
- D. A regulatory registry that lists all games recognised as e-sports
Q9. Which one of the following High Courts struck down Part II of the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, that had banned wagering in cyberspace?
- A. Madras High Court
- B. Karnataka High Court
- C. Kerala High Court
- D. Telangana High Court
Q10. With reference to the regulatory framework for online gaming prior to the central Act of 2025, consider the following statements:
1. The Madras High Court quashed Tamil Nadu's 2021 ban on online games such as rummy and poker.
2. Tamil Nadu enacted a fresh law in 2023 establishing a TN Online Gaming Authority.
3. MeitY's 2023 amendment to the IT Rules, 2021 allowed self-regulatory bodies to decide whether a real-money game may be offered.
4. The High Courts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have all upheld State bans on online games of skill played for money.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The Madras High Court quashed Tamil Nadu's 2021 ban on online games such as rummy and poker.
- Tamil Nadu enacted a fresh law in 2023 establishing a TN Online Gaming Authority.
- MeitY's 2023 amendment to the IT Rules, 2021 allowed self-regulatory bodies to decide whether a real-money game may be offered.
- The High Courts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have all upheld State bans on online games of skill played for money.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 3
Q11. Notwithstanding the judicial distinction between games of skill and games of chance, the central Act of 2025 prohibits all online money games. Which one of the following ministries is the nodal ministry that operationalises this Act?
- A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- B. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- C. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- D. Ministry of Home Affairs
Q12. Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, consider the following as functions of the Online Gaming Authority of India:
1. Classification of games as e-sports, social games or money games.
2. Registration of e-sports and notified online social games.
3. Handling of grievances relating to online games.
4. Levy and collection of GST on online gaming transactions.
Which of the above are correctly identified?
- Classification of games as e-sports, social games or money games.
- Registration of e-sports and notified online social games.
- Handling of grievances relating to online games.
- Levy and collection of GST on online gaming transactions.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4