The Geopolitical Economy of Esports in India

Mohit Anand () and Abhishek Kumar Jha
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Mohit Anand: EM - EMLyon Business School

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Abstract: This chapter presents and focuses on the emergence of India as an esports hub and one of the world's fastest-growing esports markets. The chapter looks at the rapid growth of esports in India, fuelled by increasing smartphone penetration, affordable and widely available internet, and a young population. It is further supported by the government's push for digital infrastructure and initiatives like 'Digital India' that have created a fertile ground for the esports sector. The thriving startup ecosystem is generating new opportunities in the industry. Despite this, the Indian esports industry is extremely sensitive to global and regional geopolitical trends, with global gaming corporations, foreign tournaments, and foreign collaborations being significant growth drivers. The regulatory changes and tax policies in the market are affecting both local and foreign gaming firms in the Indian esports ecosystem. The chapter also examines how India can use its emerging gaming sector as a soft power instrument to assert its global role. By considering these key areas, we seek to grasp the strategic importance of esports to India's broader economic and geopolitical context.

Keywords: soft powers; Esport; regional geopolitical trends; global geopolitical trends; esports ecosystem; video games (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05-06
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Published in The Geopolitical Economy of Esports, Routledge, pp.188 - 195, 2026, 9781041211532. ⟨10.4324/9781003725817-31⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05589071

DOI: 10.4324/9781003725817-31

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