Question : Addiction of Online Games

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of suicide of children due to addiction of internet games during the last five years in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether gambling due to addiction to internet games is causing heavy financial loss to the youth and their parents, if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(d) whether the Government has received any complaints in this regard and if so, the details of such complaints including the complaints received from the States?

to (c):The Government is committed to Open, Safe & Trusted and Accountable internet. With increasing proliferation of internet coupled with global pandemic scenario, the average time being spent on the internet by Indian users has increased. As per some media reports, time spent on online games has also increased. Government is aware of the possible risks and challenges including that of user harms associated with online games. This Ministry does not maintain data for number of children who committed suicide due to addiction of internet games. As per the information provided by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), which maintains all crime statistics, the State wise details during the year 2017 to 2020 are annexed. The latest data pertains to 2020.

“Betting and gambling” are listed as State subjects under Entries 34 of List II in Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India, thereby giving States the power to legislate in this domain. Accordingly, the States/ Union Territories have enacted their laws to deal with gambling including online gambling within their jurisdictions.

This Ministry blocks Apps/URLs including online games, based on the specific requests received from the designated Nodal Officers of the Ministries/States on grounds of integrity and sovereignty of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relationship with foreign states, public order and to prevent incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above circumstances, following due process specified in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009, notified under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

(d): This ministry has received complaints, on the same lines as above, in the form of grievances including from Hon''ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Hon''ble Chief Minister of Puducherry and some Hon’ble Members of Parliament.
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Annexure-I
State/UT-wise Number of Cases Registered under Motives of Cyber Crimes for Abetment of Suicide through Online Games during 2017-2020
SL State/UT 2017 2018 2019 2020
1 Andhra Pradesh 0 1 0 0
2 Arunachal Pradesh 0 0 0 0
3 Assam 0 0 0 0
4 Bihar 0 0 0 0
5 Chhattisgarh 0 0 0 0
6 Goa 0 0 0 0
7 Gujarat 0 0 0 0
8 Haryana 0 0 0 0
9 Himachal Pradesh 0 0 0 0
10 Jharkhand 0 0 0 0
11 Karnataka 0 0 0 0
12 Kerala 0 0 0 0
13 Madhya Pradesh 0 1 0 0
14 Maharashtra 0 0 0 0
15 Manipur 0 0 0 0
16 Meghalaya 0 0 0 0
17 Mizoram 0 0 0 0
18 Nagaland 0 0 0 0
19 Odisha 0 0 0 0
20 Punjab 0 0 0 0
21 Rajasthan 0 0 0 0
22 Sikkim 0 0 0 0
23 Tamil Nadu 5 0 0 0
24 Telangana 0 0 0 0
25 Tripura 0 0 0 0
26 Uttar Pradesh 0 0 0 0
27 Uttarakhand 0 0 0 0
28 West Bengal 0 0 0 0
TOTAL STATE(S) 5 2 0 0
29 A&N Islands 0 0 0 0
30 Chandigarh 0 0 0 0
31 D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu+ 0 0 0 0
32 Delhi 0 0 0 0
33 Jammu & Kashmir* 0 0 0 0
34 Ladakh - - - 0
35 Lakshadweep 0 0 0 0
36 Puducherry 0 0 0 0
TOTAL UT(S) 0 0 0 0
TOTAL (ALL INDIA) 5 2 0 0
Source: Crime in India
Note : ''+'' Combined data of erstwhile D&N Haveli UT and Daman & Diu UT during 2017, 2018 & 2019
*'' Data of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir State including Ladakh during during 2017, 2018 & 2019
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