UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026
Q1. Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, offering online money gaming services is punishable with imprisonment for a maximum term of how many years (for a first conviction)?
- A. Two years
- B. Three years
- C. Five years
- D. Seven years
Q2. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 were notified by which Union Ministry acting as the nodal ministry under the parent Act?
- A. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- B. Ministry of Home Affairs
- C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- D. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Q3. With reference to the composition of the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), consider the following bodies stated to be represented on it:
1. Ministry of Home Affairs
2. Department of Financial Services
3. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
4. Reserve Bank of India
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as represented on OGAI?
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Department of Financial Services
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Reserve Bank of India
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q4. The Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) is chaired ex officio by an officer of which rank/office?
- A. Cabinet Secretary
- B. Secretary, MeitY
- C. Additional Secretary, MeitY
- D. Joint Secretary, MeitY
Q5. Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming framework, which one of the following best describes an 'online social game'?
- A. A game offered solely for recreation, entertainment or skill development, which may charge a subscription or one-time access fee but involves no stakes
- B. A game in which players deposit stakes in expectation of monetary winnings, provided the outcome is determined predominantly by skill
- C. A competitive multiplayer game recognised under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 and played as part of multi-sports events
- D. A game that permits monetisation of in-game assets outside the game in exchange for real money
Q6. Among the three categories of online games recognised under the 2026 Rules, which single category is subject to a complete and outright prohibition?
- A. E-sports
- B. Online social games
- C. Online money games
- D. Casual skill-development games
Q7. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 establish which body as the unified, digital-first regulator for the online gaming sector?
- A. Self-Regulatory Bodies (SRBs) notified under the IT Rules
- B. Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI)
- C. Grievance Appellate Committee
- D. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
Q8. With reference to the regulatory timeline for online gaming in India, consider the following statements:
1. The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules were first notified in 2021.
2. Self-Regulatory Bodies for online gaming were introduced through an April 2023 amendment to the IT Rules.
3. The PROG Rules, 2026 were published in the Gazette on 22 April 2026.
4. The PROG Rules, 2026 came into force on the very day they were notified.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules were first notified in 2021.
- Self-Regulatory Bodies for online gaming were introduced through an April 2023 amendment to the IT Rules.
- The PROG Rules, 2026 were published in the Gazette on 22 April 2026.
- The PROG Rules, 2026 came into force on the very day they were notified.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q9. Consider the following statements comparing the earlier Self-Regulatory Body (SRB) framework with the PROG regime:
1. Under the earlier IT Rules framework the permissibility of a money game was verified by industry Self-Regulatory Bodies, whereas the PROG regime vests this function in a statutory Authority.
2. The PROG Act bans all online money games irrespective of whether they are games of skill or chance.
3. The Self-Regulatory Bodies were created under the PROG Act, 2025, whereas OGAI was created under the IT Rules, 2021.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Under the earlier IT Rules framework the permissibility of a money game was verified by industry Self-Regulatory Bodies, whereas the PROG regime vests this function in a statutory Authority.
- The PROG Act bans all online money games irrespective of whether they are games of skill or chance.
- The Self-Regulatory Bodies were created under the PROG Act, 2025, whereas OGAI was created under the IT Rules, 2021.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. For the purposes of the prohibition under the PROG framework, an 'online money game' is best defined as:
- A. Any online game in which a user pays or deposits stakes or wagers in expectation of monetary winnings, whether the outcome is based on skill, chance or both
- B. Only those online games whose outcome is determined predominantly by chance rather than skill
- C. Any online game that charges a one-time access or subscription fee to its users
- D. Any competitive online game offering prize money to winners of an organised tournament
Q11. The historical power of States to legislate on 'betting and gambling' — the jurisdiction now overridden for online money games — is traced primarily to which entry of the Seventh Schedule?
- A. Entry 34 of the State List (List II)
- B. Entry 34 of the Union List (List I)
- C. Entry 31 of the Union List (List I)
- D. Entry 62 of the State List (List II)
Q12. Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, the digital Certificate of Registration issued to a permitted online game is valid for a period of up to how many years?
- A. Up to 5 years
- B. Up to 7 years
- C. Up to 10 years
- D. Up to 15 years