The Union Cabinet has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, a visionary roadmap to establish India as a leading force in global sports and to promote the role of sports in national development. The new policy replaces the National Sports Policy of 2001 and aligns with India’s long-term aspirations, including becoming a serious contender at the 2036 Olympic Games.
NSP 2025 is the outcome of wide-ranging consultations with Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations, athletes, domain experts, and the public. It is structured around five strategic pillars aimed at unlocking sports as a tool for excellence, inclusion, economic opportunity, public engagement and education.
The first pillar focuses on excellence at the international level, with provisions for grassroots-to-elite sports infrastructure, early talent identification, competitive leagues, modern training and coaching systems, sports science, technology integration, and the strengthening of National Sports Federations. It also emphasises the development of technical and support personnel essential to high-performance environments.
The second pillar acknowledges the economic potential of sports, promoting sports tourism, manufacturing, startups, and entrepreneurship. It encourages Public-Private Partnerships, Corporate Social Responsibility, and innovative funding models to attract investment in the sector.
The third pillar addresses sports as an agent of social development. It seeks to broaden participation among women, tribal communities, economically weaker sections, and persons with disabilities. It also promotes indigenous games, encourages volunteering, supports dual-career pathways, and aims to position sports as a viable career. The Indian diaspora is envisioned as a partner in this outreach.
The fourth pillar seeks to ignite a national movement through mass participation campaigns, fitness drives, community-level events, and access to sports facilities. Fitness indices for schools, colleges, and workplaces are part of this strategy.
The fifth pillar focuses on aligning sports with the National Education Policy 2020, calling for curriculum integration and training of educators and physical education teachers.
To deliver on its vision, NSP 2025 includes a comprehensive implementation framework involving robust governance mechanisms, legal reforms, national monitoring benchmarks, private sector engagement, and adoption of emerging technologies such as AI and data analytics. A model policy for States and Union Territories is also included, enabling them to align local efforts with national objectives. A whole-of-government approach has been proposed to embed sports promotion across Ministries and Departments.
With this policy, the government aims to make India a healthier, stronger, more engaged society, built on the foundation of sports as a driver of national pride, economic growth and social cohesion.
