Grant Thornton Bharat And Zoho Join Forces To Drive Digital Transformation For Indian Mid-Market Enterprises

Grant Thornton Bharat continues to enhance its digital transformation offerings through its alliance with Zoho, a global technology company headquartered in Chennai. This collaboration integrates Grant Thornton Bharat's industry expertise with Zoho's cloud-powered solutions, helping Indian mid-market enterprises navigate their digital journeys with greater agility and efficiency.

Through this collaboration, businesses will gain expert guidance on financial management, compliance, and strategic growth, ensuring they fully capitalise on their digital investments with Zoho’s solutions. Grant Thornton Bharat’s sector-specific expertise further ensures that customers receive precisely tailored solutions without upfront CAPEX investments. The ability of the Zoho platform to be customised and extended enhances this advantage, enabling seamless integration with existing tech ecosystems. This synergy of strategic advisory and customisable technology empowers businesses with faster implementation, accelerated time-to-value, and higher ROI.

Suresh Venkatesan, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat, said, “Digital transformation is no longer a choice but a necessity for businesses looking to stay competitive. Our alliance with Zoho will help enterprises leverage robust technology backed by strategic advisory. By combining our industry expertise with Zoho’s scalable and integrated platform, we aim to empower businesses with the agility and efficiency needed to drive sustained growth in an evolving market.”

Bishan Singh, Head of the Channel Ecosystem at Zoho, said, "At Zoho, we strongly believe that businesses require solutions that can be quickly deployed and are also flexible and extendable. We have a wide range of business apps with platform capabilities, along with an arsenal of no-code, low-code, and pro-code tools that can cater to the needs of varying complexities. Through this partnership, with Grant Thornton Bharat’s sectorial expertise, we aim to help businesses leverage our cloud platform for their specific industry needs.”  

In the first phase, the partnership will focus on automotive, BFSI, and education sectors, with Grant Thornton Bharat helping businesses adopt Zoho's comprehensive suite of 55+ interconnected applications for their needs. Businesses will be able to leverage flagship offerings including Zoho's Finance suite of products like Zoho Books (accounting solution), Zoho Expense (travel and expense management solution), Zoho Payroll (payroll management solution) and Zoho Inventory (inventory management) in addition to Zoho CRM (customer experience platform), Zoho Creator (low-code platform), Zoho Analytics (self-service business intelligence platform), among other offerings from the company's portfolio. Zoho's platform capabilities and collection of developer tools will additionally help Grant Thornton Bharat solve specialised requirements such as  dealership management system (DMS), loan origination system (LOS), financial management, GST and e-invoicing compliance, reconciliation, payroll management, employee expense management, budgeting and forecasting, inter-company consolidation among others.

Zoho has a privacy-first approach, and does not have an ad-revenue model in any part of its business, including its free products. The company owns and operates its data centers, ensuring complete oversight of customer data, privacy, and security.

About Grant Thornton Bharat

A member of Grant Thornton International Ltd, Grant Thornton Bharat is a premium consulting firm in the country. A truly Indian Firm with global connections - we work with businesses and government across industries and sectors, providing assurance, consulting, tax, risk, and digital and technology transformation services.  

About Zoho

With 55+ apps in nearly every major business category, Zoho Corporation is one of the world's most prolific technology companies. Headquartered in Chennai, India, Zoho is privately held and profitable with more than 15,000 employees. Zoho respects user privacy and does not have an ad-revenue model in any part of its business, including its free products. The company owns and operates its data centres, ensuring complete oversight of customer data, privacy, and security. More than 100 million users around the world, across hundreds of thousands of companies, rely on Zoho everyday to run their businesses, including Zoho itself. For more information,  visit: www.zoho.com  

The Shopping Trends That Defined Kirana Commerce On Udaan In CY24

Key Highlights:

* Over 2.45 Billion units of products weighing over 7 Lac Metric Tonnes delivered on udaan

*  Closes 2024 with the highest-ever daily buyers achieving 70% Growth in Buyer Run-Rate

*  Repeat rate have hit an all-time high, rising 1,000 bps above last year —reinforcing strong customer stickiness and trust.

*  Revenue run rate surged by 65% YoY, reflecting udaan’s accelerating growth trajectory.

*  FMCG category saw an exceptional 85% YoY growth, driven by a 50% increase in the number of products ordered by retailers—a validation to udaan’s robust distribution capabilities and deep market penetration.

*  Private label brands’ Revenue run rate grew by 250% YoY, reflecting increasing demand for high-quality, value-driven products among kirana retailers

*  udaan deployed Electric Vehicles (EVs) for last-mile deliveries in Bengaluru with a commitment to drive sustainability and operational efficiency

udaan, India’s largest e-business-to-business (eB2B) platform, today announced the shopping trends that defined eB2B in Calendar Year 2024 (CY24) on the platform, offering key insights into how the shopping patterns of Indian retailers have transformed over the past year. With key achievements in business performance, rapid growth in private label adoption, and exceptional engagement across FMCG and other key categories, the trend highlights udaan's transformational impact on the kirana ecosystem.

The Shopping Trends That Defined Kirana Commerce on udaan:

udaan shipped over 2.45 Billion units in the FMCG business  alone, with the tonnage of all food products delivered (FMCG, Staples and Fresh) exceeding 7 lakh Metric tonnes. The platform recorded ~ 65% increase in overall business, driven by a ~70% growth in the daily buyers, marking 2024 as the year with the highest-ever daily buyers on the platform. Additionally, repeat rates reached an all-time high, rising 1,000 bps above last year, reaffirming strong customer stickiness and trust. This milestone highlights the value udaan delivers to a diverse and expanding network of kirana partners, empowering them to grow and succeed in a dynamic retail market.

Further, udaan processed 85.85 million lines of orders, highlighting its growing role as a trusted partner for retailers. This growth reflects not only increasing daily reliance but also udaan’s ability to seamlessly manage diverse inventory needs. Backed by a robust network and operational excellence, udaan remains committed to delivering value to kirana partners across Bharat.

Vaibhav Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, udaan, said, "This has been a defining year for us with strong sustainable growth highlighting the success of the eB2B cluster playbook that udaan has developed to empower small retailers across India. With 85%+ growth in FMCG and 250% growth in staples private labels business, we are not just enabling kirana commerce but actively leading its transformation. The rapid adoption by kiranas also highlight udaan’s acceptance as the most trusted eB2B partner for small businesses. As we look forward to 2025, our focus remains on customer-centric innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable value creation —strengthening the backbone of Bharat’s kirana ecosystem and driving the future of retail distribution."

Essentials category (FMCG, Staples and Fresh)

The FMCG business achieved a 85%+ Year-on-Year (YoY) growth in its revenue run rate. The growth was driven by an increase of 50% in the number of products ordered by retailers, demonstrating udaan’s strong distribution capabilities to meet the diverse and evolving needs of buyers. Additionally, the FMCG business witnessed 60% increase in buyers, highlighting the growing trust and dependence of retailers on udaan for their everyday business essentials requirements.

udaan’s private label brands continued to accelerate and recorded 250% Y-o-Y growth in its revenue run rate. This remarkable performance reflects the increasing demand for udaan’s high-quality, value-driven products that have become a preferred choice among kirana retailers. The success of private labels not only signifies deep customer trust but also aligns seamlessly with udaan’s strategy to enhance profitability by offering superior margins through exclusive, high-performing products.

The udaan platform witnessed a strong surge in demand, with Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata continuing to drive growth among Metros. At the same time, non-metro cities like Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Indore saw rapid adoption, highlighting the deepening penetration of eB2B commerce.

Additionally, Pune, Mysore, and Mumbai emerged as high-growth markets, reinforcing the growing acceptance of eB2B trade among small businesses and strengthening udaan’s position as the preferred partner for retailers across Bharat

udaan’s Sustainability Initiative: Expanding EV Adoption in Last-Mile Delivery

As part of udaan’s commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency, in CY24 udaan introduced and deployed Electric Vehicles (EVs) for last-mile deliveries in Bengaluru. This initiative marked a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-friendly logistics in the eB2B sector.

Overall Business Performance: Key Highlights

In CY24, udaan achieved consistent growth highlighting the strength of its strategic approach and implementation of the new design playbook in the marketplace. The company is on track to achieving profitability, with an impressive 65% ARR growth and over 70% increase in daily transacting buyers, driving deeper market penetration and increasing wallet share among retailers. Additionally, gross margins improved by 200 basis points and contribution margins by 320 basis points, alongside a 20% increase in buyer wallet share and monthly repeat ratio of over 90%. Most notably, during the period the company achieved a 30% reduction in absolute EBITDA burn, underscoring consistent focus on driving sustainable growth through efficiency enhancement and superior execution in the marketplace.

About udaan:

udaan was founded in 2016 with a vision to transform the trade ecosystem and empower small businesses by leveraging technology. As India's largest eB2B platform with about 70% market share in India, udaan operates across diverse categories including FMCG, Staples, Fruits & Vegetables, and Pharma.

With an extensive network of retailers nationwide, thousands of suppliers, and leading national and regional brands on the platform, udaan enables efficient supply chain and logistics operations driven by technology and focused on B2B trade.

udaan also enables financial products & services to small businesses, manufacturers, and retailers through udaanCapital - a fintech focused on addressing the working capital requirements.

udaan is headquartered in Bengaluru with offices in all metros and major cities across India.

GAFX 2025 Returns To Bengaluru From Feb 27 – Mar 1 To Redefine The Future Of AVGC-XR

Bengaluru GAFX, India’s premier AVGC-XR Conference (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) organized by the Ministry of ITBT, Karnataka, will take place from February 27th to March 1st, 2025 at Hotel Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru

With a focus on fostering innovation, facilitating knowledge-sharing, and encouraging strategic collaborations, the GAFX 2025 reinforces Bengaluru’s position as the world’s #1 hub for AVGC-XR and a driving force behind India’s global leadership in immersive media and entertainment. With an anticipated attendance of over 20,000, doubling past editions, this year’s event is poised to be the most influential gathering for creators, developers, investors, studios, and enthusiasts from across the AVGC-XR ecosystem.

The theme for GAFX 2025 is the “Future of Immersion: EXPERIENCE. EXPLORE. DISRUPT.” This underscores the event’s commitment to furthering the frontiers of creativity and technology. Attendees will experience the power of immersive technologies in storytelling, from real-time rendering breakthroughs to the transformative potential of virtual and augmented reality.

“The Government of Karnataka acts as an enabler for the digital media industry, fostering the full spectrum from skills & education to studios from startups to global leaders, that leverage the state’s innovation ecosystem. We see our role as an accelerator, fostering the fusion of human creativity with AI tools in ways that will transform this sector. At Bengaluru GAFX 2025, we proudly showcase India’s finest, talent and investment candidates that make this event AVGC-XR’s seminal platform in visual immersion, disruption, and storytelling.” said Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for the Departments of Electronics, IT, and Bt, and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka.

Like all new technology industries, the AVGC-XR landscape is evolving beyond traditional formats, embracing experiential engagement that is redefining how stories are produced and consumed. GAFX 2025 will explore this shift, focusing on innovation and new business models that will shape the future of entertainment. This year’s edition promises several firsts - a public-access expo and creative zone, immersive conference sessions with world leaders, an innovation zone, investor connect, and the live finals of an esports national tournament.

“Karnataka provides the most fertile ground for innovation in AVGC-XR, fostering talent, businesses, and acceleration in storytelling and technology IP. Our 16-year-old AVGC policy has taken India global, delivering award-winning success. Bengaluru GAFX is our annual testament to this leadership. This year features funding opportunities for startups and IP creators, global showcase of AVGC XR cutting-edge work, and nationwide collaboration showcasing how arts and sciences converge to drive the future of immersive technology.” said Dr. Ekroop Caur, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka.

“At Bengaluru GAFX, ABAI has curated a cross-platform presentation that depicts the New Canvas of Imagination in AVGC.  GAFX 2025 unfolds trends in AI-driven visual arts and cognitive sciences which are transforming ideas into immersive experiences. From generative art to interactive narratives, creators now craft stories dynamically, engaging audiences in ways never before possible. At GAFX, ABAI shall present multiple venues, pathbreaking presentations, 50 amazing pitch sessions, and an India expo with national participation across technology and representatives from over 12 states. This will be the biggest single show across every facet of future intelligence redefining storytelling.” said Biren Ghose, Chairman of Bengaluru GAFX and President ABAI

The event will feature the who's who in a series of extraordinary presentations from Warner Brothers, ILM, Technicolor Group, Maddock Films, D-Neg, Nvidia, Autodesk, Amar Chitra Katha, and many more. Well-known global names such as Walt Disney Animation, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks Animation, Netflix, and Rockstar Games, have graced their presence at GAFX in the past, underlining Bengaluru’s position as a central hub for creative technology.

GAFX 2025 will highlight Karnataka’s dedication to innovation but will also showcase the state’s alignment with the four core pillars - Infrastructure, Skill Development, R&D Investment, and Creative Collaboration.

Stay tuned for more updates on speakers, agenda details, and partnership opportunities leading up to GAFX 2025.

For more information, visit https://gafx.in/

teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi Will Open To Public On April 18 Within Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi

* The unprecedented art project is the home of curiosity in Abu Dhabi, spanning 17,000sqm

* Visitors will take a multi-sensory journey through massive experiential artworks

teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will officially open its doors to the public in Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi on 18 April 2025, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, and art collective teamLab.

The 17,000 sqm multi-sensory art experience is operated by Miral Experiences, a subsidiary of Miral, and will include massive transformative exhibits that take guests on a sensory-rich journey that transcends the ordinary. The exhibits engage sight, sound, and touch, encouraging guests to expand the way they feel, connect and interact with the world around them. Sitting at the intersection of art, science, and technology, the artworks do not exist independently—the environment creates various phenomena that become the artwork, offering a dynamic, ever-evolving guest experience, and ensuring that no two visits will be the same.

HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Saadiyat Cultural District is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s commitment to preserving heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision. The District will convey a message of cultural diversity that will become more powerful over time, creating global connections, inspiring cultural exchange, and fostering new ways of thinking to support the region, the global South and the world. We believe in the diversity of artistic expression and teamLab is the perfect partner to provide immersive art experiences that push the boundaries of art and technology. Together, we are redefining what is possible—expanding our horizons and forging deeper connections in ways never seen before.”

HE added: “Once opened, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will offer an immersive journey that sparks infinite curiosity and imagination in all who visit. At the intersection of art, technology, and nature, it will create a world of limitless wonder and creativity. Through these multi-sensory explorations, we are inspiring new generations of innovators, thinkers, and creators from Abu Dhabi and beyond.”

A home for infinite curiosity

teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will feature a constantly transforming art experience unique to Abu Dhabi, conceived by the Tokyo-based art collective teamLab. The installations are part of teamLab’s concept of ‘Environmental Phenomena’, created through an extensive experimentation process. Housed in a purpose-built structure, conceptualised and designed by teamLab Architects and realised by teamLab Architects and Abu Dhabi-based MZ Architects, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi’s architecture will play an important role in providing the exhibits with an environment to evolve freely and organically.

Toshiyuki Inoko, Founder of teamLab, said: “The artworks in teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi do not exist independently, but are created by the environment which produces the various phenomena that cause the artworks to exist. Up until now, things that humans have created have existed through matter, just like a rock, and have a stable structure in and of themselves. Unlike such things, the existence of the artworks in teamLab Phenomena are created by the environment. The environment produces the phenomena, and the environment maintains the existence of the structure. Let us call that existence environmental phenomena.”

“Existence will be freed from matter that has previously been responsible for its existence. Elements like air, water, and light that permeate our daily lives are transformed by their environment into unique phenomena that will become the existence. The boundaries of that existence are ambiguous and continuous. Even if people break the artwork apart, the work will remain in existence as long as its environment is maintained. Conversely, if the environment is not maintained, the work will disappear. Perhaps, people’s consciousness will spread from existence itself to the environment. A rock will continue to exist even if it is placed in a sealed box isolated from the outside world, but life cannot maintain its existence if it is placed in such a closed box. Life is also an existence that is maintained by the environment. Life may be a miraculous phenomenon that emerges from a flow in an open and continuous world.”

Experience massive transformative exhibits

Guests will be immersed within a realm of creativity and innovation through a series of massive transformative exhibits.

In Massless Suns and Dark Suns, spheres of light and darkness converge to challenge perceptions of reality. Radiant spheres of light appear as solid yet intangible entities; these spheres of light only exist in your perception. As perspectives broaden, purple-blue spheres of darkness also emerge, as though darkness has been solidified. Touching the light of a sphere ignites an intense glow, triggering a harmonious ripple effect across neighbouring spheres. This artwork cannot exist on its own—its existence is a phenomenon created by its environment.

Building upon the previous realm of light and darkness, Levitation Void introduces an order of energy at the centre of its space, a void that is born and maintained by its environment. The void rises to a new existence, one that hovers freely in the air—transcending the concept of a tangible object, levitating effortlessly in the middle of its space, neither grounded nor confined to a ceiling. When pushed, it may move or fall to the ground, but as if by instinct, it slowly rises again, repairing itself and remaining in a state of levitation.

Tickets to enjoy teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi’s multi-sensory art experience can be purchased at www.teamlababudhabi.com. 

Saadiyat Cultural District continues to grow

teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is a key addition to Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi, which upon completion will be the largest concentration of world-leading cultural and educational institutions in the world. Through its dynamic spaces, this district will foster cultural interaction, creative exchange and knowledge generation through its experiences, events, exhibitions and collections.

The growing District is the home of Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first universal museum in the Arab world; Manarat Al Saadiyat cultural centre, which hosts major art exhibitions including two of Abu Dhabi’s most important cultural events, Abu Dhabi Art and Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, as well as a year-round programme of creative events and workshops; and Berklee Abu Dhabi, offering world-leading performing arts education programmes.

Saadiyat Cultural District will soon be joined by Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the UAE, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, telling the story of life on earth and the origins of our universe, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, featuring a global collection of modern and contemporary art that reflects the diversity of cultures and trends from around the world.

Brigade Reap Onboards 5 New Unique Urban Tech Startups For Its 17th Cohort

* Includes first of its kind startup in Real Estate Focusing on Aerial Surveillance by Autonomous Robots

Brigade REAP, India's leading UrbanTech accelerator has announced its 17th Cohort, comprising 5 promising urban tech startups from a competitive pool of 180 applicants. Among the startups that made the cut include those in the ESG reporting, real estate asset management, artificial intelligence, sustainability and a first of its kind robotics startup focused on real estate.  These startups were chosen based on their innovative use of technology to address challenges and opportunities and give tangible benefits to the real estate sector.  Brigade REAP will be responsible to provide mentorship to these startups, help them scale their businesses, garner investments, and make a significant impact on the future of real estate and urban tech.

"Cohort 17 reflects our endeavor to integrate cutting-edge urban tech into the real estate sector. The cutting-edge technology of the startups selected for this cohort set them apart from the 180 that applied, as they aim to create futuristic solutions in urban tech that addresses the dynamic challenges and opportunities in the real estate and built environment sector. By mentoring these startups, we’re not just fueling their growth—we’re shaping the future of urban tech and sustainability. Our hands-on support helps them scale, drive innovation, and make a real impact in the PropTech sector, which is projected to reach $86.5 billion by 2032 globally." – Abhay Garg, Chief Mentor, Brigade REAP

The startups who were chosen included:

RIU: An ESG reporting platform with built-in compliance for local and international frameworks, simplifying sustainability reporting.

Ontune AI: Developing AI-driven teammates for real estate, streamlining operations, enhancing customer experience, and driving better revenue outcomes.

Strides Dynamic: Building advanced autonomous aerial robots for surveillance and inspections in complex environments, including indoor and GNSS-denied spaces, catering to enterprises, government, and defense.

Thekka CleanTech: A sustainable construction tech startup specializing in construction waste management through scientific demolition and optimized recycling of C&D waste.

TitleWize: An AI-powered tool designed by legal experts to instantly generate title flows, streamlining and securing real estate investments.

Eurogrip Tyres Launched Their international Trailhound Tyres Of Two Variants – "Trailhound SCR" & "Trailhound STR"

India’s leading 2 & 3-wheeler tyre brand, launched their international Trailhound tyres in India. Trailhound range of tyres come in two variants – Trailhound SCR for modern-classic roadsters, scramblers and café racers, and Trailhound STR for medium and large adventure motorcycles.

On the launch, Mr. P. Madhavan, Executive Vice President – Marketing & Sales, TVS Srichakra Ltd, said, “Following our international launch of Trailhound tyres at auto show EICMA in Italy, we are happy to launch Trailhound tyres in India today. Trailhound enhances our already extensive premium product range and its two variants SCR and STR are sure to delight India’s growing adventure rider segment. As bike tyre specialists, we look forward to bringing more world-class products to the Indian market.”

On the product design, Mr. V. Sivaramakrishnan, Chief Technology Officer, TVS Srichakra Ltd said, “Art and science are at work while we design tyres with global technology, as both tread pattern design as well as material composition have a great impact on performance – Trailhound is a true testament to this. Trailhound SCR tyres have 80/20 on-off capabilities, and the tread pattern is designed to improve water drainage and traction on gravel roads, while retaining excellent stability and comfort on tarmac.  The 90/10 tread pattern design of Trailhound STR boosts water dispersal, wear uniformity and traction on gravel and light off-road terrain.”

Features of Trailhound SCR Tyres

A radial structure with 0° steel belt for superior handling, agility and control at varied riding speeds

A X-ply structure with synthetic fibres for increased lateral stiffness and resistance against bumping

High silica compound balance with carbon black for increased grip on asphalt, in dry and rainy conditions. 

Variable radius profile for contour steepness with different angles to optimize contact patch size and shape according to the motorcycle position whether straight, mid lean or full lean. Its knobby-like pattern has been carefully designed to ensure excellent asphalt performances coupled with traction on light off-road such as gravel, dirt, stone paving and even broken tarmac.

Features of Trailhound STR Tyres

A radial structure with 0° steel belt for superior handling, agility and control at every riding speed

 A X-ply structure with synthetic fibres for increased lateral stiffness and resistance against bumping

Quadrazone multicompound for dual tread compounds layout coupled with two more layers for improved grip, mileage and stability.  

80% silica content which increases compound grip on cold and wet tarmac.

Pro Gamers And Players Welfare Association Challenge Tamil Nadu’s Online Gaming Regulations ‘Gaming Is Our Livelihood’

The Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), along with a group of professional gamers from Tamil Nadu, has challenged the recently introduced Tamil Nadu Regulations on Real Money Gaming, 2025 in the Tamil Nadu High Court. The petition argues that (i) the regulations infringe upon the fundamental rights of online gamers under the Indian Constitution under articles 14, 19 and 21, severely impacting the professional gaming community; (ii) states do not have the competence to pass such a regulation under the constitutional scheme and skill games can only be regulated by the central government, under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021; and (iii) the regulation proceeds based on erroneous and non-existent data and is ex-facie arbitrary

"State of India Gaming Report 2022," a collaborative study by Lumikai and Amazon Web Services (AWS) highlights that the number of esports players in India grew fourfold from 150,000 in 2021 to 600,000 in 2022. It also projects This number will reach 1.5 million by 2027, reflecting the rapid growth of the Indian gaming industry.

EPWA represents a wide community of players in Tamil Nadu, including some of India’s most accomplished professional poker players and esports competitors. Among them are Vikram Kumar Lungi, winner of the 2017 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Hyperturbo Championship and 3rd place finisher in the 2017 APT Main Event, as well as PS Rathanvel, a chess prodigy who was on track to become India’s youngest Chess Grandmaster active global ranking of 737. The list of petitioners also includes Aditya Sushanth Donka—widely known as ‘Bomber’—a World Series of Poker (WSOP) Bracelet winner, and one of India’s most successful poker professionals.

The regulations impose severe restrictions, including a ban on online gaming between 12:00 AM and 5:00 AM, which players argue is entirely disconnected from the realities of professional gaming. For many players, these are prime hours when they compete with the world’s best, including international players and office-goers who engage in competitive games after work hours.

EPWA and players have challenged these restrictions on three key grounds:

*     Violation of the Right to Livelihood: Professional gaming is a legitimate career for thousands, and restrictive hours severely curtail their ability to earn a living.

*     Competitive Integrity and Global Participation: Many competitive and international games occur during late-night hours, and restricting gameplay reduces Indian players’ access to competitive play.

*     Arbitrary Restrictions: The government’s assumptions about sleeping hours (12 AM - 5 AM) fail to consider the reality of professional gaming and the working patterns of many players.

Player Reactions:

Vikram Kumar Lungi, APT Champion, "Just because we are in Tamil Nadu, we are being given step-motherly treatment. The entire country plays freely, and international events happen at night. Why Should we be restricted when everyone else can compete without limitations? Gaming is my profession, and I cannot afford to have my work dictated by outdated policies."

VS Rathanvel, "I and I know what it means to compete globally. Chess requires strategy, patience, and facing the best minds in the world. Restricting us from playing at night is like telling an athlete they can’t train during peak competition hours—it makes no sense."

Aditya Sushanth Donka, WSOP Bracelet Winner, "Many players in competitive games are office-goers who return home late at night and play serious poker after work. If these laws stay, India will be the only place where Playing at night is illegal—not because of any harm but because someone decided that 12-5 AM should be sleeping hours. That is not how professional gaming works."

EPWA and the professional gaming community are committed to ensuring these restrictive regulations do not destroy India’s growing presence in the global real money gaming industry. The legal challenge seeks to protect professional players and the thousands who rely on online gaming as a source of livelihood.