India News

Should the Indian Government Regulate Gambling in the Country?

Published

5 years ago

October 23, 2021

All over the world, gambling remains to be one of the most popular pastimes across various cultures and regions. This is especially true in a country like India wherein activities like horse race betting or slots games are rampant. It’s considered by most of the population to be a perfectly legitimate form of casual recreation. Aside from that, India is also considered one of the most technologically competent and advanced nations playamo partners is the leading gambling online platform in the world. This is important to note because the online gambling industry has been experiencing substantial growth, especially over the past few years.

However, currently, gambling is technically not allowed in India. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 is a central law that disallows the practice of gambling in the country. However, it’s important to note that this piece of legislation was enacted back in 1867 and many of its detractors will argue that it’s rather outdated. In fact, the language in the law is so vague that it technically only doesn’t allow for gambling when it comes to games of chance. Therefore, games that require a certain level of skill don’t technically qualify for the prohibition. This is how many individual states in India have circumvented Federal law and have allowed the operation of state-legal gambling houses and establishments.

Currently, despite all the legal restrictions, the Indian gambling market is thriving and is one of the biggest in the world. Technically, if the law is to be taken at its word, then gambling in all shapes and forms as we know it today should be illegal. However, many citizens in India still manage to engage in gambling on a daily basis. To this day, no private citizen in India has ever been charged for violating gambling laws in terms of participating in gambling activities. This is why there is a substantial call for the Indian government to not just legalize gambling but also regulate it. Currently, all of the money that circulates within the gambling market in India can’t be accounted for by the Indian government due to its illegality. According to a 2010 KPMG report, it’s estimated that the gambling market in India is worth around US$60 billion. With that kind of cash floating around the black market, it’s becoming more and more compelling for the Indian government to start taxing the flow of this money.

Aside from that, there’s an argument to be made for the employment opportunities that the gambling industry would be able to generate for Indian citizens. It doesn’t just have to do with dealers or floor managers who directly deal with customers. Gambling houses and casinos could also create jobs for custodians, security personnel, culinary personnel, and hospitality employees. Naturally, this would boost the middle class and the greater economy of India as well. This is a very compelling argument when you take into consideration the fact that millions of people in India are unemployed. Unfortunately, unemployment still remains to be one of the most pressing issues in India today.

With regards to the path forward, the first and most immediate step that the Indian government could take is to amend the constitution so as to recognize gambling as a legal activity from the perspective of the state. The constitutional amendment is necessary so that any legislation made by parliament will not be deemed unconstitutional or ambiguous. Next, the government should look to establish regulatory bodies that will directly oversee and manage the operations of gambling institutions within the country. Of course, whatever follows should also be subject to budgetary allocations that are provided by the government for the purposes of improving this economic sector.

Ultimately, given that some states in India already have legalized gambling structures, it’s not too hard to see how the rest of the states could follow. It’s really just a matter of fixing constitutional amendments so as to accommodate more progressive gambling legislation in the future. At the end of the day, there are many reasons why it’s a good idea for India to actually regulate its gambling activities.

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India News

Air India sacks Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after failing drug test

Air India has terminated the Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after a confirmatory test found a psychoactive substance following the August 4 incident.

Published

2 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The pilot was in command of flight AI2379, which was travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude over Odisha. The incident left 24 passengers injured.

Air India said the termination was in line with its zero-tolerance policy regarding safety violations and regulatory requirements.

Air India terminates pilot with immediate effect

In a statement, the Tata-owned airline said the pilot-in-command had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The airline said that, considering its zero-tolerance approach to violations related to safety, fitness and regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect.

Air India also said it continues to cooperate fully with the investigation into the incident and has provided access to relevant operational, maintenance and technical records.

What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?

According to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Airbus A320 was carrying 145 people when it experienced the near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at around 36,000 feet.

The technical failure resulted in the autopilot disconnecting and triggered a brief stall warning. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude, resulting in injuries to 24 passengers.

The preliminary report also noted that the pilot tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test.

However, the report did not establish that the pilot’s drug-test result caused or contributed to the hydraulic system failure or the subsequent loss of altitude.

AAIB recommends action over psychoactive substance finding

The AAIB described the confirmation of psychoactive substance use as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action against the pilot on priority.

The investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is still underway.

The preliminary report also noted that the co-pilot was flying the aircraft when the incident occurred and attempted to bring the situation under control.

Air India said safety remains its highest priority and that its pilots undergo training, proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable requirements.

India News

India offers forensic DNA support to identify Nepal flood victims

India will make forensic laboratory facilities available for DNA profiling of first-degree relatives of people missing after Nepal’s August 26 flash floods.

Published

8 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

India has offered forensic laboratory support to help identify people who remain missing after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said central and state forensic laboratories in India will make their DNA profiling facilities available for first-degree biological relatives of people missing after the August 26 flash floods in Nepal.

DNA samples can be provided by relatives in India

According to the MEA, first-degree biological relatives living in India can have their biological samples collected and DNA profiles prepared.

The relatives can include a person’s father, mother, son, daughter or sibling. DNA profiling can be carried out at Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), laboratories of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities.

The initiative is intended to support Nepal’s ongoing process of identifying mortal remains recovered after the flash floods.

DNA profiles to be compared with unidentified remains

The MEA said the DNA profiling may use Autosomal STR DNA profiling, as advised by Nepal Police, subject to the technical requirements communicated by the Nepali authorities.

Once prepared, DNA profiles and the preliminary information required by Nepalese authorities can be sent to Nepal Police by email for comparison with DNA profiles obtained from unidentified mortal remains.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu will also facilitate coordination, with copies of the DNA profiles to be shared with the embassy for this purpose.

Nepal flood death toll rises

The death toll from the flash floods has risen to at least 1,259, according to Nepalese authorities, after rescue workers recovered additional bodies from affected areas.

More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while around 5,000 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

The flash floods, which followed an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, caused extensive destruction across towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

India News

PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

Published

12 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation.

The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2026

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.