Gaming, Esports Industry Seeks Budget 2026 Support, Tax Clarity

• The gaming and esports industry is seeking clear policy support and a defined tax framework in Budget 2026, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's endorsement of India's potential in global gaming.
• Stakeholders desire formal government acknowledgment and clarity on taxation across mobile, PC, and console gaming, especially after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act distinguished esports from betting-led games.
• Industry leaders advocate for esports prize winnings to be taxed similarly to other sports, not under gambling frameworks, to avoid the current 30% tax rate.
• There's a call for financial institutions to change their perception of gaming businesses as high-risk, improving access to banking, payments, and credit for developers and organizations.
• The industry expects concrete numbers, timelines, and execution frameworks for the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) Promotion Task Force, including multi-year funding for skilling, incubation, and export enablement.

Why It Matters: The Indian gaming and esports sector urges Budget 2026 for policy support, tax clarity, and AVGC funding.