Popular mobile game PUBG, which was banned in September last year in the aftermath of China flexing its military muscles on the India-China border areas, may return in a new avatar, according to the Indian government.

“In November, 2020 M/s. Krafton Inc. and PUBG Corporation had informed MeitY that PUBG game would be offered in India by the PUBG Corporation, a Korean Company & a wholly owned subsidiary of Krafton Inc. It was also stated that this company is planning to launch a new app `Indo-Korean PUBG’ (IK- PUBG) in India and plan to invest over US $100 million,” junior minister in Ministry of Electronics & Information technology (Meity) informed parliament last week.

The ministry also stated it has been informed that Indian users’ data will be “stored in India and as well as some measures will be taken to reduce excessive game play”. 

Meity had blocked PUBG Mobile Nordic Map : Livik app owned by M/s. Tencent ( a Chinese company) in September 2020 under the provisions of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. 

Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 is an amendment to the original law in 2008 that gives unhindered powers to the federal or central government to block public access to any information online be it websites or mobile apps.

However, Meity in parliament clarified that it has no role in granting any permission for entry of PUBG or any company/App in India. Nevertheless, government accords paramount importance for safety of children and Indian users, it stated. 

In September 2020, India had banned 118 additional mobile apps with Chinese links, including the popular game PUBG, citing data privacy concerns and a threat to national security, taking the total count of Chinese-linked mobile apps banned by New Delhi to 224. India’s move came amid fresh border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh then.

In Januray 2021, according to PTI, the government had sent notices to Chinese apps, including TikTok, that the order to block them will be continued. The notice had been issued by Meity after reviewing replies of blocked apps.