Bihar Government To Introduce Esports As The Part Of School And College Curriculum

Undeniably, 2023 has been a big year for the Indian esports ecosystem. With the relaunch of BGMI, multiple BGMI LANs including the India-Korea Invitational, India's first-ever international Valorant LAN in Convergence 2023, and Godlike Esports' podium finish at Call of Duty Mobile World Championship 2023, it has been a stellar year for the sector in the nation. To make things even better, Bihar State Sports Authority has organized India's first state-level esports tournament and promised to add esports to the school and college curriculum. 

On 28 December 2023, Bihar State Sports Authority organized the 1st Bihar Esports Open Championship Final at Patliputra Sports Complex, Kankarbagh, Patna, featuring several esports titles like eChess, FIFA 23, BGMI and Real Cricket 24. Several renowned personalities from Indian esports, including Ammar 'Destro' Khan (former Gladiator Esports player), attended the event. 

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Bihar Government To Add Esports In School And College Curriculums While Introducing Esports Policies 

While the Indian esports and gaming industry has grown manifold in the past few years, Governments have been a bit slow to recognize the sector. Government involvement, like Bihar State Sports Authority's (BSSA) organizing a state-level championship, works as a catalyst to boost the gaming industry. 

At the beginning of December 2023, BSSA announced their 1st Bihar Esports Open Championship, a full-fledged esports tournament comprising eChess, FIFA 23, BGMI and Real Cricket 24. To end the championship in grand fashion, the Bihar State Sports Authority organized a LAN event at Patliputra Sports Complex, Kankarbagh, Patna. Several government officials like Shri Jitendra Kumar Rai, Minister of Art, Culture & Youth Department, Bihar, and I.P.S Raveendran Sankaran, Director General cum Chief Executive Officer of BSSA, attended the event. The Bihar Esports Championship Finals also featured the BGIS 2023 winning in-game leader, Ammar 'Destro' Khan, as the special guest. 

At the Bihar Esports Championship Final, Shri Jitendra Kumar Rai proudly acknowledged the achievements of mobile gamers and how the Government is looking forward to supporting the esports industry. Director General of BSSA, Raveendran Sankaran, announced that the Bihar Government will introduce esports policies to support the sector and will also introduce esports into school and college curriculums.

The players and teams with podium finishes in their respective titles at the Bihar Esports Championship Finals received cash prizes alongside the honor of winning the first state-sponsored esports event. The overall prize pool was distributed amongst the top three, with the player/team in first position receiving Rs. 20,000, while those coming in second and third were rewarded with Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000, respectively. In addition to the cash prize, the Government will provide free training to all the winners with the support of Bihar State Sports Authority.