The Indian gaming industry faces a critical inflection point ahead of Union Budget 2026-27, one year after the 2025 ban on real-money gaming (RMG) reshaped the regulatory landscape. While the ban disrupted parts of the market, it also triggered a broader policy reset, with growing government focus on video gaming, esports, and game development. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Budget on Feb. 1, 2026, industry leaders are calling for targeted fiscal support and regulatory clarity to unlock long-term growth. Video gaming is now among the fastest-growing digital entertainment segments in India and globally. Stakeholders argue that aligned policy frameworks could allow India to move from being a large consumer market to building a sustainable game-creation economy driven by developers, studios, and original intellectual property (IP).