PM Modi approves new national sports policy

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Sports Policy 2025, aimed at transforming India into a global sports powerhouse through grassroots reform, private investment, inclusivity, infrastructure development, and Olympic-level ambition

Hyderabad: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025 on Tuesday — a landmark initiative aimed at reshaping India’s sporting landscape and empowering citizens through sports.

The new policy supersedes the 2021 NSP and lays out a visionary and strategic roadmap to establish India as a global sporting powerhouse and a strong contender for excellence at international events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.

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NSP 2025 is the outcome of extensive consultations involving Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders. The policy is anchored on five key pillars.

It focuses on strengthening sports programmes from grassroots to elite levels, with mechanisms for early identification and nurturing of talent, promoting competitive leagues and competitions, and developing infrastructure in rural and urban areas. It also aims to build world-class systems for training, coaching, and holistic athlete support, while enhancing the capacity and governance of NSFs.

NSP 2025 encourages the adoption of sports science, medicine, and technology to boost performance, and the training and development of sports personnel — including coaches, technical officials, and support staff. It recognises the economic potential of sports and seeks to promote sports tourism, attract major international events, strengthen the sports manufacturing ecosystem, and encourage startups and entrepreneurship in the sector.

Private sector participation is encouraged through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and innovative funding initiatives.

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. It aims to revitalise indigenous and traditional games, position sports as a viable career option through integration with education, encourage volunteering, facilitate dual-career pathways, and engage the Indian diaspora.

It positions sports as a people’s movement and aims to drive mass participation, launch fitness indices for schools, colleges, and workplaces, enhance access to facilities, integrate sports into school curricula, and train educators and PE teachers to promote awareness and education.

To achieve its objectives, the policy proposes a robust regulatory framework for sports governance, including legal reforms, private sector funding through innovative mechanisms, and PPP/CSR models.

It also calls for integrating sports promotion into the schemes and programs of all Ministries and Departments for holistic national impact.