Chennai, Oct 29:
The Tamil Nadu government is planning to introduce gaming-related curricula in schools and higher education institutions and provide restricted Wi-Fi access to students to prevent exposure to harmful games and applications, Minister for Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Services R Kumar said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the 18th edition of the India Game Developers Conference (IGDC) 2026 in Chennai, the minister said the proposed measures would help students distinguish between appropriate and harmful digital content while preparing them for employment opportunities in the growing gaming and digital technology sectors.
“We are planning to introduce restricted Wi-Fi for students, specifying what they should and should not access, including which games they can and cannot play,” he said.
The government is looking to align education with the requirements of the gaming industry by introducing relevant subjects and skills into school and college curricula. The move is intended to help students gain industry-ready skills and improve their employment prospects in gaming, animation, visual effects and other emerging technology fields.
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) will serve as the nodal agency for developing the State’s gaming ecosystem, the minister said. He also indicated that Tamil Nadu’s IT policy needed to be revised to reflect changes in the technology sector.
Acknowledging the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, Kumar said AI was leading to job losses but could also generate new opportunities. Gaming and related sectors, including animation, visual effects and extended reality, could play a significant role in creating jobs, he added.
The industry’s skills gap remains a major concern. According to the GDAI GameDev Outlook 2026 survey, which covered more than 100 industry respondents and 13 academic respondents, 67.3% of industry respondents were willing to support curriculum advisory boards. However, 56.7% rated fresh talent as poorly prepared or not ready for industry requirements.
The survey also found that 54.8% of studios planned to expand their teams over the next two years, indicating potential demand for skilled professionals.
Organised by the Game Developer Association of India, IGDC is being held from October 28 to 31. The conference brings together developers, studios, publishers and investors to explore business opportunities, international partnerships and talent development.
The proposed curriculum and internet restrictions reflect the government’s attempt to balance digital safety with the employment potential of the gaming industry. The effectiveness of the measures will depend on how access restrictions are implemented and whether educational institutions can provide students with practical, industry-relevant training.