The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Khelo Bharat Niti (National Sports Policy [NSP] 2025), a landmark initiative aimed at reshaping the country’s sporting landscape and empowering citizens through sports.
The stated aim of the new policy framework is to create “world-class systems” of coaching and athlete support along with a robust administrative set-up to make the country a strong contender for the 2036 Olympics.
NSP 2025 supersedes the existing National Sports Policy, 2001, and lays out a visionary and strategic roadmap to establish India as a global sporting powerhouse and a strong contender for excellence at international sporting events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.
For the record, the National Sports Policy was first introduced in 1984.
Per the official announcement, Khelo Bharat Niti is a “guiding document” to formulate plans and schemes for betterment of the country’s sporting ecosystem.
“We have used the experience of the last 10 years and the new policy will work towards improvement of sports. Major objective is to make India a top-five sporting nation by 2047. That’s the overall objective,” PTI quotes Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as having told reporters while unveiling the policy.
“The PM has given a different kind of emphasis to sports, especially in rural areas,” he said.
“It’s a well thought through policy which addresses all matters related to sports. It also includes the framework for sports governance,” Vaishnaw added.
India is bidding to host the 2036 Olympic Games for which there has been a massive push to create infrastructure and bring events of international stature to the country.
A statement from the Press Information Bureau described the new policy document as an outcome of “extensive consultations” involving Central ministries, NITI Aayog, state governments, National Sports Federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders.
The policy seeks to link sports with tourism and economic development.
“So many people travel to watch an IPL, a football game. So that boosts tourism and economic development,” PTI quotes Vaishnaw as having further said.
The document also seeks to align with the National Education Policy by making sports an integral part of school curriculum. It states that the objective is to equip educators and physical education teachers with specialised training to promote sports education.
Among the listed goals is to establish a robust regulatory framework for sports governance and development of innovative financing mechanisms, including private sector participation through PPPs and CSR.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called it a transformative step towards reshaping India’s sporting ecosystem.
“This landmark policy outlines a strategic roadmap to promote sports culture at the grassroots, enhance infrastructure, support athlete development, and establish India as a formidable force in global sports,” he posted on X.
The changes it makes to the previous policy includes calling for greater participation of private companies, something that Mandaviya has already spoken about.
PTI quotes the minister as having recently stated that he has held consultations with over 40 companies, who are keen on adopting individual Olympic sports.
The Sports Ministry is also working towards promoting a “league culture” across disciplines, including financing those which need funding. Creating leagues is also a stated objective of the new policy.
The document also seeks to promote more inclusivity and increase participation in sports among under-represented groups such as women, the LGBTQ+ community, economically weaker sections, and tribal communities.
“Creating and maintaining such facilities can significantly reduce barriers and promote active participation among them,” the policy states.
NSP 2025 is the outcome of extensive consultations involving Central ministries, NITI Aayog, state governments, national sports federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders. The policy is anchored on five key pillars.
1. Excellence on the Global Stage
This pillar aims to:
Strengthen sports programs from the grassroots to elite levels, including mechanisms for early identification and nurturing of talent.
Promote the establishment of competitive leagues and competitions, and develop sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.
Build world-class systems for training, coaching, and holistic athlete support.
Enhance the capacity and governance of National Sports Federations.
Encourage the adoption of sports science, sports science, medicine, and technology to boost athletic performance.
Train and develop sports personnel, including coaches, technical officials, and support staff.
2. Sports for Economic Development
NSP 2025 recognizes the economic potential of sports and seeks to:
Promote sports tourism and attract major international events to India.
Strengthen the sports manufacturing ecosystem, and promote startups and entrepreneurship in the sector.
Encourage private sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and innovative funding initiatives.
3. Sports for Social Development
The policy emphasizes the role of sports in driving social inclusion by:
Promoting participation among women, economically weaker sections, tribal communities, and persons with disabilities through focused programs.
Revitalizing and promoting indigenous and traditional games.
Positioning sports as a viable career option by integrating it into education, encouraging volunteering, and facilitating dual-career pathways.
Engaging the Indian diaspora through sports.
4. Sports as a People’s Movement
To make sports a national movement, the policy aims to:
Drive mass participation and a culture of fitness through nationwide campaigns and community-based events.
Launch fitness indices for schools, colleges, and workplaces etc.
Enhance universal access to sports facilities.
5. Integration with Education (NEP 2020)
In alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, the NSP 2025 proposes to:
Integrate sports into school curricula.
Equip educators and physical education teachers with specialized training to promote sports education and awareness.
6. Strategic Framework
To realise its objectives, the NSP 2025 lays down a comprehensive implementation strategy encompassing:
Governance: Establish a robust regulatory framework for sports governance, including legal framework.
Private Sector Funding & support: Develop innovative financing mechanisms and engage private sector participation through PPPs and CSR.
Technology & Innovation: Leverage emerging technologies, including AI and data analytics, for performance tracking, research, and program implementation.
National Monitoring Framework: Create a national framework with well-defined benchmarks, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and time-bound targets.
Model Policy for States: The NSP 2025 will serve as a model for States and Union Territories, encouraging them to revise or formulate their own policies in alignment with national objectives.
Whole-of-Government Approach: The policy calls for integration of sports promotion into the activities, schemes, and programs of all Ministries and Departments to achieve a holistic impact.
