GDAI Sets Up Policy Secretariat Ahead of PROGA, 2025 Rollout
The Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) has revealed the establishment of India's inaugural Policy Secretariat dedicated to advancing and expanding the video gaming sector in the country, representing a major milestone in creating organized collaboration between gaming industry stakeholders and governmental authorities.
Located in Delhi NCR, the Policy Secretariat will collaborate extensively with federal and regional government entities to develop policies that encourage innovation, defend and secure member interests along with those of the broader video game sector, and promote sustainable development within India's rapidly changing gaming landscape.
This initiative arrives at a crucial moment, following the recent approval of the Online Gaming Bill titled "Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025" by Parliament and the government's reinforced dedication to developing India's digital entertainment sector.
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Sridhar Muppidi, Chairperson, GDAI, said, "We welcome the government’s progressive step in establishing a national-level Regulatory Authority and recognizing online social games as a distinct category under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The GDAI Policy Secretariat will work closely with the government to shape globally aligned, innovation-friendly regulations that empower startups, promote exports, and position India as a global hub for culturally rich and responsible game development.”
Sridhar added, “We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, for its continued guidance and support to GDAI in advancing the growth of India’s gaming ecosystem.”
Being the most prominent organization representing video game creators in India, GDAI has consistently championed organized policy assistance to facilitate industry expansion, protect development studios, and establish a viable ecosystem. The Secretariat will serve as a connecting link between policy creators, regulatory bodies, and the gaming sector, guaranteeing that India's distinctive gaming environment, which includes major gaming corporations, independent developers, studios creating products and providing services, and mobile-focused creators, benefits from supportive regulatory frameworks.
GDAI has designated Hemant Coomar as Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy to lead its recently formed Policy Secretariat. Bringing more than three decades of diverse industry expertise across manufacturing, telecommunications, and power transmission sectors, Hemant has collaborated with prominent industry organizations and corporations. Particularly in the technology domain, he contributed to implementing and deploying the Aadhaar-based eKYC customer onboarding system, which represented a transformative development for telecommunications service companies.
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Hemant Coomar says, “The establishment of the GDAI Policy Secretariat marks a significant step toward shaping a progressive and globally competitive gaming ecosystem in India. Our goal is to ensure clear recognition of Online Social Games as distinct from Online Money Games and Esports, while advocating for proportionate, globally aligned regulation that encourages innovation rather than restricts it. With balanced oversight by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and ease of compliance for startups, we aim to create an environment that nurtures creativity, supports exports, and promotes culturally rooted gaming content that strengthens India’s position as a global hub for video game development.”