Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 Launched to Build Inclusive, Performance-Driven Sports Ecosystem: Govt
The new policy places strong emphasis on strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure and supporting early talent identification in both urban and rural areas.
Policy focuses on grassroots infrastructure, talent identification, and bridging rural–urban divide
New Delhi: The Union government has launched the Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 with the objective of building a strong, inclusive and performance-driven sports ecosystem across the country. The policy, unveiled on July 10, 2025, sets out a national vision of “sports for nation building,” positioning sport as a catalyst for holistic development, the government informed the parliament on Thursday.
The details were shared by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
The new policy places strong emphasis on strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure and supporting early talent identification in both urban and rural areas. It seeks to widen access to sporting opportunities by addressing long-standing gaps in availability of basic training facilities, dedicated sports infrastructure, and competitive platforms, particularly for athletes from under-represented sections of society.
Special focus has been placed on improving participation among women, persons with disabilities, and economically weaker groups. By proposing targeted interventions at the community level, the policy aims to reduce barriers to entry and ensure that sporting opportunities are not limited by geography or socio-economic status.
Integration of sports with school education is another key pillar of the policy. By embedding sports more deeply within the education system, the government aims to promote early engagement, foster a sporting culture from a young age, and encourage community participation. The policy also underlines the need for collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including educational institutions, local bodies and sports organizations, to broaden outreach and improve outcomes.
In parallel, the policy outlines investments in modern sports infrastructure and structured training systems, along with the development of higher-level training centres to enhance the quality of athlete preparation and performance.
As sports is a state subject under the Constitution, the primary responsibility for promotion and development of sports rests with state and Union Territory governments. The Union government supports these efforts through its schemes and programmes, aligned with the national sports policy and implemented within defined guidelines and reporting frameworks. The performance and impact of these initiatives are assessed through third-party evaluations, in line with evaluation guidelines issued by the department of expenditure.
