Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) are emerging technologies that integrate digital and physical environments to create immersive experiences. AR enhances the real world with digital overlays, as seen in applications like Google Lens and...
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) are emerging technologies that integrate digital and physical environments to create immersive experiences. AR enhances the real world with digital overlays, as seen in applications like Google Lens and Pokémon Go. VR, in contrast, immerses users in entirely computer-generated environments, commonly used in gaming and entertainment. MR blends elements of both AR and VR, enabling real-time interaction between physical and digital objects.
In July 2021, in response to a parliamentary question, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that it is actively supporting AR and VR development through agencies such as the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
In September 2022, MeitY collaborated with Meta to introduce the XR Startup Program. This initiative aims to enhance skills and build capabilities in the metaverse ecosystem. The program includes an accelerator and a grand challenge to support technology startups. By January 2023, the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) had shortlisted 120 startups and innovators for participation in the XR Startup Program.
India’s regulatory framework for AR/VR/MR is still in its nascent stages. Cybercrimes are currently addressed under the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, which was amended in 2008, but it lacks specific legislation or regulatory clarity to address virtual crimes, such as virtual harassment in AR and VR environments. Applying traditional legal principles to virtual crimes presents challenges due to jurisdictional complexities, evidence collection, enforcement limitations, and privacy concerns.
