Syllabus:

Context: 

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, aimed at reshaping the country’s sporting landscape and empowering citizens through sports.

More on the News

• NSP 2025 replaces the 2001 policy and outlines a strategic vision to make India a global sports leader, aiming for strong performance at events like the 2036 Olympics.  
• It was shaped through wide consultations with ministries, states, sports bodies, athletes, experts, and the public.

National Sports Policy 2025

Excellence on the Global Stage: This pillar aims to:

• Strengthen sports from grassroots to elite levels through early talent identification, training, and holistic athlete support.
• Expand infrastructure in rural and urban areas, promote leagues, and improve sports governance.
• Boost performance with sports science and technology, and build capacity of coaches, officials, and support staff.

Sports for Economic Development: It recognizes the economic potential of sports and seeks to:

• Promoting sports tourism and hosting global events. 
• Boosting sports manufacturing, startups, and entrepreneurship.
• Encouraging private investment via PPPs, CSR, and innovative funding.

Sports for Social Development: The policy highlights sports as a tool for social inclusion by:

• Encouraging participation from women, marginalized groups, and persons with disabilities.
• Reviving traditional games.
• Promoting sports as a career through education and dual pathways. 
• Engaging the Indian diaspora in sports.

Sports as a People’s 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.

Integration with Education (NEP 2020): In alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 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.

Strategic Framework: To achieve its goals, NSP 2025 outlines a comprehensive strategy:

• Governance: Set up a strong legal and regulatory framework.
• Private Sector: Encourage PPPs, CSR, and innovative financing.
• Technology: Use AI and data analytics for performance and implementation.
• Monitoring: Establish a national framework with clear KPIs and targets.
• State Alignment: Act as a model for states to align their policies.
• Whole-of-Government: Integrate sports promotion across all ministries and programs.

Sources: PIB 

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2141138