The newly unveiled National Sports Policy, also known as Khelo Bharat Niti, signals a significant shift in the Indian government's approach to sports, particularly concerning athletes of Indian origin residing abroad. The policy aims to encourage these athletes to represent India, marking a departure from the previous stance that only Indian passport holders were eligible.
This initiative addresses a long-standing issue where talented athletes of Indian origin were unable to represent the country due to citizenship restrictions. The ban on Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders from representing India, particularly impacted sports like football and tennis. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been particularly keen on allowing OCIs to represent the country. Prakash Amritraj, son of the legendary Vijay Amritraj, was among those US passport holders affected by this rule in tennis.
The Khelo Bharat Niti document states that India will seek "Peace & International Cooperation Activities through Sports" so that "Sports can serve as a powerful tool for international diplomacy and cooperation". The policy explicitly states that "Wherever feasible, promising and prominent Indian-origin athletes living abroad may be encouraged to come back and play for India at the international level". This initiative aims to transform sport into a dynamic tool of cultural diplomacy and nation-building, strengthening the global Indian identity. The new policy aims to strengthen India's sporting ecosystem. To strengthen the bond with the Indian diaspora, the policy proposes dedicated sporting events and leagues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Khelo Bharat Niti as a "landmark day" for encouraging sporting talent and establishing India as a sports hub. He highlighted that the policy is anchored on five pillars: excellence on the global stage, sports for economic development, sports for social development, sports as a people's movement, and integration with education (NEP 2020). The policy recognizes the need to build world-class systems for training, coaching, and athlete support, enhance the capacity and governance of sports federations, and utilize sports science, medicine, and technology to improve athletic performance. It also proposes a revamped funding mechanism, including private sector initiatives.
The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 supersedes the National Sports Policy 2001 and serves as a guiding document for improving the country's sporting ecosystem. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the policy aims to make India a top-five sporting nation by 2047. The policy is a result of extensive consultations with central ministries, NITI Aayog, state governments, National Sports Federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders. It seeks to link sports with tourism and economic development, promote inclusivity by encouraging participation from women, tribal communities, and economically weaker sections, and introduces a national framework with KPIs, timelines, and benchmarks.
The policy emphasizes strengthening the sporting culture from the block level to the national level, integrating sports into the fabric of Indian society, and ensuring access and opportunities for all, starting from the grassroots levels. Key strategies include promoting physical literacy, outreach and awareness programs, major sporting events, and strong sports promotion institutions. The policy also focuses on athlete-centric sports development, safety, ethics, professionalism, sports science, medicine, technology, research and innovation, and rewards and recognition for champion athletes.
The Khelo Bharat Niti recognizes the economic potential of sports, promoting sports tourism, a strong sports equipment manufacturing ecosystem, sports startups, and entrepreneurship. It aims to reduce barriers to participation for underrepresented populations, promote indigenous sports and games, and foster peace and international cooperation through sports. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya described the policy as a transformative step towards reshaping India's sporting ecosystem, promoting sports culture at the grassroots, enhancing infrastructure, supporting athlete development, and establishing India as a formidable force in global sports.
