Breaking: President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to the Online Gaming Bill, officially turning it into law.

One quick thing:  OpenAI to open its first India office in New Delhi

In today’s newsletter: 

• Why Ashwini Vaishnaw shut down real money gaming
• D2C brands scale q-comm ops ahead of festive rush
• Ola Electric gets shareholders’ nod to reallocate IPO funds

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The Indian government just pulled the plug on online money gaming, but Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says this isn't about killing an industry.

• It's about saving families from what he calls a crisis "bigger than the drug menace"

The IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says the government will promote e-sports and skill-based games and support those impacted by the ban.

"Families are getting affected by it," Vaishnaw told us in an exclusive interview after Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

"There are some cases where students got into crime because of the debt that they had accumulated — so many cases," Vaishnaw said.

Under the law...:

• Online money games are banned
  

• Violators face jail terms and heavy fines
  

• Celebrity and influencer endorsements will also be penalised

Vaishnaw said that doctors and mental health experts believe people often fall into this addiction mainly because it is promoted and endorsed by celebrities and influencers.

Also read: Online Gaming Bill: Kavin Bharti Mittal's Rush to exit India following government’s proposed RMG ban

On investor losses in real money gaming, Vaishnaw said:

"Most VCs knew that this is an area which has issues, and this is not just India. Everywhere in the world people are facing these issues."

When asked if companies would get time to pivot their business models, Vaishnaw was blunt:

"Let the law take its whole course. Everyone has to follow the rule of the land."

The government plans to promote game-makers through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, "providing better technologies, better tools, better access to tools."

"Such complex problems have to be dealt with by the entire society — by parents, by friends, by teachers. The entire society has to come up and solve such problems," Vaishnaw told us.

Read the full interview

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands on quick commerce platforms are racing to stay stocked and visible for the festive rush.

D2C brands are racing the clock, stacking festive SKUs before shelves run dry.

• Clapstore, a Shark Tank-backed toy brand, has been front-loading inventory since July, with Rakhi and Independence Day sales already up 10x

• Oracura, a dental healthcare device maker, is rolling out limited festive SKUs and gift bundles

Restocking slots and warehouse caps are tight, forcing precise timing to meet festive surges.

Marketing budgets are soaring as brands jostle for top-of-app attention.

• Kidara Toys, a Mumbai-based toy maker, has doubled ad spends and is testing festival-specific campaigns

• Munchilicious, a healthy breakfast cereal brand, is now exhausting its ad budget by midday due to high search spikes

Discount-plus-paid-visibility combos are the new currency to stay ahead on crowded apps.

 Dispatch slots are tight, prompting brands to accelerate their stock and supply chain management.

• Fast-moving D2C products need near-daily replenishment, but platforms are short-staffed during festive peaks

• Blinkit is helping brands with forecasts, scheduling, and inventory management support

Even with help, keeping products visible and in stock remains a key challenge.

Dig deeper

Ola Electric Mobility’s shareholders have given the green light for the company to tweak how it uses its IPO proceeds. 

Ola Electric Mobility announced on August 22 that its shareholders had approved a special resolution to vary the objects of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) and extend the time limit for using the proceeds.

• The special resolution, which required over 90% approval, passed almost unanimously at the company’s 8th AGM

Remember Ola Electric’s blockbuster IPO in August 2024? The company raised over Rs 5,500 crore at Rs 76 per share. 

• Back then, the funds were earmarked for ramping up capacity at its Tamil Nadu gigafactory, advancing battery R&D, paying down debt, and other corporate needs

With the new approval, Ola Electric can reallocate funds depending on evolving priorities in the fast-changing EV market, while also gaining more breathing room on timelines.

Also Read: I don't regret taking Ola Electric public, says founder Bhavish Aggarwal on market feedback since IPO

The AGM decision also highlights Ola Electric’s broader funding strategy. 

• Earlier this year, the company engaged with bankers to explore raising Rs 1,000–1,200 crore ($120–140 million) in private credit to refinance an existing loan

That plan has yet to close, and it remains unclear whether Ola will revive or revise it in light of the new flexibility on IPO funds.

For Ola Electric, the ability to rework capital deployment is critical as it navigates a competitive EV market, balances manufacturing expansion, and sharpens bets on future products. 

• Flexibility with IPO proceeds could give it more room to manoeuvre

• OpenAI Chief People Officer Julia Villagra is leaving the artificial intelligence company effective Friday, vacating a key role at a time when the AI industry is scrambling to attract talent.
  
  
• The Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority (KMEA), which is tasked with reviewing government programmes with allocations of above Rs 100 crore, has decided to deploy an artificial intelligence-based platform to strengthen the process.

Looking for an intense weekend binge? 

First up, J.S.K – Janaki V vs State of Kerala delivers a powerful courtroom drama, as a woman battles for justice. Watch it on Zee5

Then, zoom into adrenaline with F1: The Movie, where Brad Pitt burns rubber as a veteran racer chasing one last shot at glory. Watch it on Amazon Prime Video 

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