THE GOVERNMENT ON THURSDAYÂ said in the Rajya Sabha that while it is actively working to involve private companies in the Khelo India mission, that there is no policy mandating job reservations for sportspersons in the private sector.
Responding during Question Hour, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, stated that employment opportunities for athletes in private companies remain entirely voluntary.
The statement came in response to a question raised by BJP MP Mayankkumar Nayak, who sought to know whether provisions similar to those in government ministries, departments, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) where sportspersons receive reservation benefits exist in the private sector. Khadse noted that while government bodies follow structured reservation policies under existing guidelines, no such directive has been extended to private enterprises.
Despite the absence of a reservation mandate, the minister highlighted that the government is encouraging private sector involvement in sports development through the Khelo India mission. Companies are being urged to support sports via Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and private firms may also contribute through infrastructure, training, and grassroots programmes. Khadse reiterated that the government’s approach is to facilitate collaboration rather than impose regulations on private entities.
Responding to a separate query by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, Khadse outlined the government’s efforts to integrate sports and education under the Khelo India framework. Key initiatives include establishment of sports schools in districts in collaboration with state governments, providing talented students the opportunity to pursue academics and sports simultaneously, and expansion of sports disciplines and activities to improve talent identification at the grassroots level.
