Cabinet Approves National Sports Policy 2025: All You Need To Know
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025. The initiative, which attempts to transform the country’s sporting and hence empower the nation through it, as per the government.
The initiative, approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replaces the existing National Sports Policy, 2001, bringing a fresh roadmap to establish India as a “global sporting powerhouse.”
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The NSP was adopted after extensive consultations involving Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders. The Centre claims the project endeavours to make India a strong competitor at international sporting events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.
There are six key pillars on which the NSP 2025 is based. Firstly, excellence on the global stage, which seeks to enhance sports programs from the grassroots to elite levels, promote the establishment of competitive leagues and competitions, and develop sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas. It also includes building world-class systems for training, coaching, and holistic athlete support and encouraging the adoption of sports science, medicine, and technology to boost athletic performance.
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Secondly, the NSP 2025 attempts to utilise the economic potential of sports by seeking to promote sports tourism and attract major international events in the country. It looks to develop a sports manufacturing ecosystem, and promotes startups and entrepreneurship in the sector, and encourages private sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and innovative funding initiatives.
Thirdly, the new sports policy makes use of sports for social development and inclusion. The policy ventures to promote participation among women, economically weaker sections, tribal communities, and persons with disabilities through focused programs. It also promotes indigenous and traditional games and engages the Indian diaspora through sports.
The fourth is recognising sports as a national movement through mass participation, the launch of fitness programs in institutions and universal access to sports facilities. The fifth point of the new policy is the integration with the National Education Policy 2020, with which sports will be incorporated into school curricula. The policy strives to equip educators and physical education teachers with specialized training to promote sports education and awareness.
The sixth key pillar of the policy is its comprehensive implementation strategy, including governance, private funding and support, technology and innovation.
According to the Center, the new NSP 2025 will serve as a model for states and union territories to revise and formulate their policies in alignment with national objectives.
“With its structured vision and forward-looking strategy, National Sports Policy 2025 sets India on a transformative path toward becoming a leading sporting nation globally, while creating healthier, more engaged, and empowered citizens,” the government said in a statement.
