**Executive Summary**
The Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 aims to ensure equitable access to sports infrastructure and establish comprehensive sports programs across India, focusing on inclusivity for marginalized groups such as Scheduled Castes/Tribes, rural areas, women, and persons with disabilities. The policy also focuses on bridging the rural-urban sports access gap. The information was provided on December 5, 2025, by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Objectives of Khelo Bharat Niti-2025**
* Ensure equitable access to sports infrastructure nationwide.
* Establish comprehensive sports programs from grassroots to elite levels.
* Promote social development and inclusion through sports.
* **Inclusivity and Participation**
* Establish dedicated sports facilities tailored to the needs of specific groups.
* Increase participation in sports among women, persons with disabilities, and economically weaker sections.
* Organize regular sporting leagues designed specifically for these groups.
* **Bridging the Rural-Urban Gap**
* Improve access to sports training and facilities for athletes from all backgrounds.
* Integrate sports with school curricula.
* Encourage community participation and partnerships to reduce training costs.
* Support leagues for women, especially in underserved areas, under the ASMITA initiative.
* **Roles and Responsibilities**
* State Governments primarily responsible for sports development and promotion.
* Central Government supplements State Government efforts.
* **Financial Assistance by Central Government**
* Provide expert coaches, sports equipment, boarding, lodging, sports kit, competition exposure (Domestic and Foreign).
* Cover educational expenses, miscellaneous expenditure, Insurance, and Contingencies for selected athletes.
* **Khelo India Program Support**
* ₹6.28 lakhs per annum per Khelo India Athlete (KIA), including ₹10,000 per month out-of-pocket allowance.
* Support to athletes for participation in international tournaments under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF).
**Impact Analysis**
**Athletes (especially from Scheduled Castes/Tribes, rural areas, women, persons with disabilities, and economically weaker sections)**
* **Impact:** Improved access to sports infrastructure, training, and opportunities. Enhanced social development and inclusion.
* **Action Required:** Participate in sports programs and leagues. Leverage available financial assistance and support.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Primary responsibility for sports development and promotion.
* **Action Required:** Continue supporting sports activities and athlete participation, supplemented by Central Government initiatives.
**Central Government**
* **Impact:** Role in supplementing State Government efforts through financial assistance and support to athletes.
* **Action Required:** Continue providing financial support and resources through programs like Khelo India and the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF).
**National Sports Federations (NSF)**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to receive assistance for supporting atheletes.
* **Action Required:** Apply for funding under Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) to support athletes for participation in international tournaments.
**Schools and Communities**
* **Impact:** Increased integration of sports with school curricula and greater community participation.
* **Action Required:** Embrace sports as part of the educational program and encourage community involvement.
Key Entities Referenced
Khelo Bharat Niti-2025: Policy focused on ensuring equitable access to sports infrastructure and establishing comprehensive sports programs, with a focus on tribal and marginalized groups.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The central ministry responsible for youth affairs and sports, and likely the primary author/implementer of the policy.
Khelo India program: A comprehensive program that provides financial support to Khelo India Athletes.
ASMITA – Sports for Women initiative: A Government initiative supporting the conduct of sports leagues for women, especially in underserved areas.
Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF): A scheme providing support to athletes for participation in international tournaments.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 Promotes Inclusive
Sports Infrastructure, With Focus on Tribal and
Marginalized Groups
प्रव तथ: 05 DEC 2025 2:23PM by PIB Delhi
The objectives of Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 inter-alia include to ensure equitable access to sports
infrastructure across the country and to establish comprehensive sports programs for all participation
groups, from grassroots to elite levels including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, rural areas and
women athletes from around the country, and promote social development and inclusion through sports.
It includes provisions to establish dedicated sports facilities with services tailored to their specific needs to
foster inclusivity and increase participation in sports among women, persons with disabilities and
economically weaker sections in sports.
It also has provisions to organize regular sporting leagues, designed specifically for these groups, to
enhance engagement and provide sustained opportunities for involvement.
It also focuses on bridging the rural-urban gap by improving access to sports training and facilities for
athletes from all backgrounds. The policy emphasizes the integration of sports with school curricula,
community participation, and partnerships with stakeholders to reduce training costs and increase
outreach. Presently, under the ASMITA – Sports for Women initiative, the Government supports conduct
of leagues for women especially in underserved areas.
Sports being a State subject, the responsibility of development and promotion of sports including
providing support for participation of athletes, rests primarily with the State Governments, and the Central
Government only supplements their efforts.
The Central Government provides support /financial assistance in the form of expert coaches, sports
equipment, boarding, lodging, sports kit, competition exposure (Domestic and Foreign), educational
expenses, miscellaneous expenditure, Insurance and Contingencies including travelling to selected athletes
as per the approved norms of Sports promotional schemes.
Further, under the Khelo India program, comprehensive support, which entail funding of ₹6.28 lakhs per
annum per Khelo India Athlete (including ₹10,000 per month out-of-pocket allowance for each KIA) is
provided for training of Khelo India Athletes. Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports
Federations (ANSF), the Central Government also provides support to athletes for participation in
international tournaments.
This information was given by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha yesterday***
Ayushman Kumar
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2199325) आगंतुक पटल : 485
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