National Sports Policy 2025: All You Need To Know

The Union Cabinet approved the National Sports Policy 2025 aimed at reshaping the country’s sporting landscape and empowering citizens through sports.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishaw announced that the new policy supersedes the existing National Sports Policy 2001. "It lays out a 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," he said.

1. Excellence on the Global Stage: It will promote the establishment of competitive leagues and competitions, and develop sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas. This is focused on building world-class systems for training, coaching, and holistic athlete support.

2. Sports for Economic Development: NSP 2025 recognises the economic potential of sports and seeks to promote sports tourism and attract major international events to India. It also aims to strengthen the sports manufacturing ecosystem, and promote startups and entrepreneurship in the sector via private sector participation through public-private partnerships, corporate social responsibility and innovative funding initiatives.

3. Sports for Social Development: The policy emphasises 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.

NSP 2025 also focuses to revitalise and promote indigenous and traditional games. Positioning sports as a viable career option by integrating it into education, encouraging volunteering, and facilitating dual-career pathways. It will be engaging the Indian diaspora through sports.

4. Sports as a People’s Movement: It also focuses on driving mass participation and a culture of fitness through nationwide campaigns and community-based events; launch fitness indices for schools, colleges, and workplaces etc., and enhance universal access to sports facilities.

5. Integration with Education (NEP 2020): This also focuses on aligning with the National Education Policy 2020.

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 and support: Develop innovative financing mechanisms and engage private sector participation through PPPs

  and CSR.

• Technology and 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, 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.