New Delhi, August 18 (HS): The Government of India has recently unveiled the Khelo Bharat Niti-2025, a transformative vision aimed at turning India into a global sporting superpower. Built on five strategic pillars, the policy seeks not only to elevate India’s sporting excellence on the world stage but also to weave sports into the fabric of society, economy, and education.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Monday, emphasized that the policy envisions a future where sports empower every section of society by linking them with health, education, and opportunities. “This policy will usher in a new energy and a new mindset towards sports in India,” Mandaviya asserted.

The Five Pillars of the Policy

Excellence on the Global Stage – Focused on advanced sports infrastructure, talent identification systems, and international competitiveness.

Sports for Economic Growth – Targeting the rise of sports tourism, manufacturing, and sports-tech industries.

Sports for Social Development – Promoting health, inclusion, and education through sporting activities.

Sports as a People’s Movement – Encouraging mass participation, community engagement, and integrating sports into everyday cultural life.

Sports-Education Integration – Aligning with the National Education Policy 2020, aiming at holistic student development by balancing academics and athletics.

Key Objectives

The Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 lays out several ambitious goals:

-Establishing comprehensive sports programs from grassroots to elite level.

-Organizing competitions and leagues nationwide to strengthen the competitive ecosystem.

-Promoting physical literacy initiatives to build a nationwide culture of fitness and wellbeing.

-Strengthening talent scouting and development systems to nurture future champions.

-Ensuring equitable access to sports infrastructure across all regions, regardless of economic or geographic disparities.

-Building an athlete-centric ecosystem with sports science, sports medicine, and innovation at its core.

Implementation Strategy

Interestingly, the policy offers no direct financial assistance to states or union territories, nor does it propose costly standalone schemes. Instead, it adopts a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach, calling for collaboration between central and state governments, federations, academia, and private sectors. Infrastructure development will begin from the block level and expand upwards, ensuring greater inclusivity and outreach.

Talent Identification and Development

A dedicated framework will be created for talent discovery and nurturing, with National Sports Federations, state governments, educational institutions, and private entities jointly working to build a single-window national platform. This digital-physical system will track, guide, and support athletes’ progression while ensuring a seamless connection between education and sports pathways.

Inclusive Approach

Inclusivity forms the heart of the policy. Special emphasis will be placed on women athletes, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities, with plans for dedicated sports facilities and regular league competitions to ensure equal opportunities for all.

In essence, the Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 is much more than a sports framework—it is a social and economic blueprint that aims to transform India’s sporting future while inspiring a national movement around health, fitness, and excellence.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar