The cabinet on Tuesday approved the new National Sports Policy (NSP), aimed at making India one of the top five sporting nations globally. This latest policy, NSP‑2025, replaces the previous version introduced in 2001, which itself dated back to 1984. Drafted with a vision toward the 2036 Olympics, an event India aspires to host, the policy outlines a long‑term strategy for transforming the sports landscape.Information and Broadcasting Minister Anupriya Patel emphasised the policy’s forward‑looking approach: “We have used the experience of the last 10 years and the new policy will work towards improvement of sports… Major objective is to make India a top five sporting nation by 2047. That’s the overall objective.”She also noted the Prime Minister’s special focus on promoting sports in rural areas, calling the NSP “a well thought through policy which addresses all matters related to sports. It also includes the framework for sports governance.”Described as the “Outcome of extensive consultations,” the NSP involved contributions from Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations, athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders.The policy is built around five core pillars: Excellence on the Global Stage, Sports for Economic Development, Sports for Social Development, Sports as a People’s Movement, and Integration with Education.To realise these goals, the NSP outlines a comprehensive implementation plan including improved governance, private sector support, technological innovation, a national monitoring framework, model state policies, and a whole‑of‑government approach. The government’s ambitions are reinforced by its push to host the 2036 Olympic Games, with increased focus on building world‑class infrastructure and bringing international events to India.Highlighting the link between sports and tourism, Naresh Kumar, Secretary, I&B Ministry, said, “Many people travel to watch an IPL, a football game. So that boosts our tourism and economic development.”The policy also seeks to enhance India’s sports manufacturing capabilities, encourage startups, and promote entrepreneurship. Mechanisms like public‑private partnerships (PPPs), corporate social responsibility (CSR), and innovative funding models are central to this approach.Another critical element is the integration of sports into education. Although NEP 2020 addressed this, implementation has lagged.
