Union Cabinet Approves National Sports Policy 2025, Aims Visionary Roadmap To Establish India As Global Sporting Powerhouse

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025 on Tuesday. This new sports policy will replace the existing National Sports Policy, 2001 and it outlines a strategic framework in order to establish India as one of the global sporting giants.

Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders all participated in lengthy consultations that resulted in the National Sports Policy 2025. NSP 2025 will be based on a number of factors which aim to enhance India's ranking as a sporting nation in the world.

Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandviya posted on X, “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.”
 

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.