Srinagar Khel Sankalp Unveiled; Centre, States Align on Athlete-Centric Sports Vision
Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other participants at the Chintan Shivir during the launch of the Srinagar Khel Sankalp in Srinagar on Sunday.
The Sankalp positions sports as a key driver of nation-building, highlighting its role in youth empowerment, public health, social cohesion and economic growth.
Srinagar: Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday launched the ‘Srinagar Khel Sankalp’, outlining a unified national roadmap to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem with a strong focus on athlete-centric development and cooperative federalism.
The document, released on the concluding day of the Chintan Shivir of ministers of youth affairs and sports from states and union territories, emphasises building a collaborative framework to expand sports infrastructure, strengthen talent identification systems and develop region-specific sports clusters.
According to an official statement, the Sankalp positions sports as a key driver of nation-building, highlighting its role in youth empowerment, public health, social cohesion and economic growth. It also underscores India’s ambition to host major global sporting events, including the Olympics and World Cups.
The framework calls for leveraging regional diversity to develop tailored sports ecosystems, encouraging states to align infrastructure development and talent pathways with local strengths and conditions.
The final day of deliberations focused on sports governance reforms, sports goods manufacturing and youth engagement. Discussions stressed the need to strengthen institutional frameworks, enhance transparency, and improve coordination across stakeholders to professionalise sports administration.
Participants also highlighted the opportunity to position India as a global hub for sports goods manufacturing through cluster-based development, innovation and support for domestic industry.
Youth engagement emerged as a key pillar, with emphasis on structured platforms such as MY Bharat to promote participation, leadership and community-driven initiatives.
The day began with the Fit India “Sundays on Cycle” cyclothon led by Mandaviya and minister of state Raksha Khadse, reinforcing the message of fitness and mass participation.
The Srinagar Khel Sankalp reflects a collective commitment by the Centre, states and union territories to build a robust, inclusive and future-ready sports ecosystem, with coordinated action across governance, infrastructure and youth development.
Srinagar Khel Sankalp (Full Text)
We have gathered in Srinagar — from the snow line to the shoreline — united by one dream: every Indian child deserves the joy and strength that sport can give. In the spirit of federalism, we embrace the vision of a Viksit Bharat where sport plays a pivotal role in nation-building. Sport binds communities together, fosters camaraderie, and strengthens social bonds. We stand together — States, UTs, and the Union — determined to go above and beyond for our youth.
Sports federations, states and the Centre will work in harmony. To realise this ambition, we affirm that sporting federations and associations, states and the Union shall move as one, converging on shared targets, speaking in one voice, and advancing together with an athlete-centric approach.
We recognise that India’s diversity is not a challenge to be managed but a reservoir to be drawn from. We shall map and develop infrastructure, identify talent, and build sports clusters rooted in the unique geography, culture and heritage of every state. Yogah karmasu kaushalam — excellence in action — guides our steps.
We see sport as a potent tool of socio-economic development. We recognise that sports can drive economic growth by boosting tourism, attracting international events, and spurring local industry. We dream together of hosting the world’s biggest tournaments — Olympics and World Cups — to uplift communities and showcase India’s unity on the global stage.
We, the states and the Union, pledge from this valley and beyond: sports will not be a footnote but a rising chapter in India’s renaissance. With one voice — Sankalp se Siddhi (resolution brings success) — we commit ourselves to this journey, confident that together we will build an India where every athlete can soar, and every child is fit and healthy.
