PM Modi Spurs Youth Towards Gaming Careers: Industry Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a groundbreaking dialogue with some of India's most prominent young gamers, a move lauded by industry leaders as a pivotal step in acknowledging and promoting the burgeoning gaming sector as a viable career avenue. The meeting, which featured notable creators such as Animesh Agarwal, Mithilesh Patankar, Payal Dhare, Naman Mathur, and Anshu Bisht, spotlighted the e-gaming industry's exponential growth.

Parth Chadha, Co-Founder and CEO of gaming startup STAN, emphasized the significance of PM Modi's interaction with the country's top gamers, citing it as a source of inspiration for the youth to consider gaming seriously as a career option. Chadha highlighted gaming's immense popularity among India's youth and underscored how the Prime Minister's engagement underscores gaming's pivotal role in the digital landscape and its contribution to the economy.

With an estimated gaming audience ranging from 450 to 550 million players, India's gaming industry showcased its economic prowess by generating $3.1 billion in revenue in FY23. Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity for Indian gamers and esports athletes to interact with PM Modi, describing it as a dream fulfilled.

Suji further reflected on the government's recognition of esports as a distinct sport last year, separate from the broader category of online gaming, and expressed optimism for sustained support from PM Modi's administration in nurturing the Indian esports ecosystem. As the dialogue between PM Modi and leading gamers reverberates throughout the country, it underscores the transformative potential of gaming as both a recreational pursuit and a lucrative career path, shaping the aspirations of India's burgeoning youth population.