New Gaming Law: At the center of the new framework is the recently constituted Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), a regulator that will decide whether a title falls into the category of an online money game, an esports title, or a social game. The authority will also be empowered to impose penalties, suspend registrations, and block operations if platforms break the law. Payments Under Scrutiny: The new rules extend beyond gaming firms and into the financial system that supports them.

Banks, payment gateways and financial institutions will have to verify registration certificates of gaming platforms before processing the latter’s payments. This is expected to turn the payments stack into an enforcement layer. Long List Of Compliances: The framework also introduces user protection measures, including age verification, parental controls, grievance redressal, fair play monitoring and responsible gaming safeguards.

Complaints must first be raised with the platform, then can be escalated to the PGAI and, if needed, further to the MeitY secretary. End Of The Old Order: First passed by the Parliament in August 2025, the new rules marked a sweeping ban on online real-money gaming in the country. However, the Act dismantled a sector that raised over $3 Bn and employed nearly 2 Lakh people over the past decade.

The ripple effect is already visible – Dream11 has pivoted toward watch-along and fintech, while unicorns like MPL and Games 24×7 have shuttered significant portions of their operations. But as the industry now pivots from high-stakes wagering to social engagement and esports, what does the new regime mean for India’s gaming ecosystem? Let’s find out… From The Editor’s Desk Ex-Dunzo Founder Eyes ₹102 Cr The former Dunzo cofounder’s new startup, M, is raising ₹102 Cr in its seed round from Peak XV Partners, Blume Ventures and CRED.

Of the total, ₹83.5 Cr has already been infused in the startup. Post the allotment, Peak XV will hold 15.5% in the company, while Blume and CRED will own 12.4% and 6.2%, respectively. Cofounders Biswas and Kartik Mishra will hold 3.1% each.

M was founded late-last year. While details on the startup’s business are currently scant, it will likely build tools to help people manage their homes by automating routine decisions and everyday services. Groww’s New Verticals Gain Ground Over the past few years, Groww has made strategic moves to diversify its revenue stack and reduce reliance on core verticals.

These efforts now seem to be showing early results for India’s largest broker. While Groww’s mainstay products like mutual funds and equities continued to drive volume in Q4 FY26, newer offerings like commodity derivatives and MTF also saw hefty growth. Emerging verticals like wealthtech and AMC continued to be loss-making in Q4.

The company, however, expects these segments to turn profitable in the coming years. But, the investments into these verticals could weigh on profitability in the near term. AI Giants Eye The Defence Tech Pie Sarvam and other AI startups are in advanced talks with the defence ministry to launch a ₹300 Cr Centre of Excellence (CoE) to develop defence capabilities by leveraging indigenous AI technologies.

The CoE will likely feature multiple intelligence units that will build AI systems trained on Indian data and operational intricacies. These AI models will aid in advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, and decision-support systems for the armed forces. India is also steadily integrating AI into its defence machinery.

The armed forces leveraged the technology during last year’s Operation Sindoor for real-time threat identification, enhancing surveillance and achieving high accuracy in operations. Daalchini’s FY26 Show The retail tech startup claimed that its operating revenue doubled YoY to ₹140 Cr in FY26, while EBITDA surged 5.7X YoY to about ₹21 Cr. The company did not disclose its exact bottom line figure for the fiscal.

Ending FY26 with about 5,500 vending machines, up 62% YoY, Daalchini is now targeting aggressive expansion and aims to scale its network to 8,000-11,000 machines by FY27. The company is also eyeing a fresh fundraise, in a mix of equity and debt. Founded in 2017, Daalchini operates a network of cashless, smart vending machines that offer snacks, beverages, and other products.

With a presence in 110 Indian cities, the startup has raised over $5 Mn to date. STCH Bags $7 Mn The AI startup has raised about ₹66 Cr in its Pre-Series A round led by Omnivore to expand its AI capabilities, build out its fabric R&D lab, deepen manufacturing partnerships, and scale delivery across key markets. Founded in 2025, STCH operates an AI-powered contract development