**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 1361 in the Lok Sabha, to be answered on December 8, 2025, regarding the adoption of international sports policies. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports addresses questions concerning comparative analysis of sports policies, differences in balancing education with sports, steps to strengthen sports infrastructure in Maharashtra, integration of sports with mainstream education, and adoption of best practices from the U.S. and China. Currently, no proposals are under consideration regarding integrating sports with education or adopting best practices from other countries.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Comparative Analysis:**
* The Government has not conducted a formal comparative analysis of sports promotion policies in the U.S. and China regarding advanced training, integrated sports-education, and institutional support.
* **Education and Sports:**
* The issue of balancing education with sports, as it relates to scholarships and university-level athlete programs, does not arise.
* **Development of Sports:**
* The development of sports, including strengthening sports infrastructure, coaching, and grassroots talent identification, is primarily the responsibility of State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements their efforts.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* The Government has taken measures for achieving excellence in sports, including at the grassroot level.
* The Ministry runs various schemes for the promotion of sports across the country, including Maharashtra:
* Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports.
* Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs).
* Cash Incentives to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their coaches.
* National Sports Awards.
* Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons.
* Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons.
* National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
* Running Sports Training centres through Sports Authority of India (SAI).
* National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).
* Details of these schemes are available on the Ministry's website (https://yas.nic.in).
* Details of sports infrastructure projects approved and their sanctioned cost, funds released, and progress under Khelo India Scheme and NSDF are available on the Ministry's dashboards.
* **Khelo Bharat Niti 2025:**
* The Government has launched Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, aiming to create an inclusive and robust sporting ecosystem.
* **Future Proposals:**
* No proposals are currently under consideration regarding the integration of sports with mainstream education or adopting best practices from the U.S. and China.
**Impact Analysis**
**State/Union Territory Governments**
* **Impact:** Primary responsibility for developing sports, including infrastructure, coaching, and talent identification.
* **Action Required:** Continue developing and strengthening sports programs in their respective regions, supplementing with Union Government schemes.
**Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports**
* **Impact:** Responsible for supplementing State/Union Territory Government efforts in sports development and managing national sports programs.
* **Action Required:** Continue running and monitoring existing schemes for sports promotion across the country and making information available on their website.
**Sportspersons and Coaches**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of various schemes like cash incentives, pensions, and welfare programs.
* **Action Required:** Engage with available programs and initiatives for sports development and achievement.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports: Primary ministry responsible for sports promotion policies and implementation of schemes.
Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports: Flagship program for the development of sports in India.
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF): Fund established to promote sports and provide financial assistance to sportspersons.
Maharashtra: State specifically mentioned in the question regarding sports infrastructure development.
Sports Authority of India (SAI): Organization that runs sports training centers.
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Department of Sports
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1361
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
Adoption of International Sports Policies
1361. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:
SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:
SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:
SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any comparative analysis of
sports promotion policies in the United States (U.S.) and China
regarding advanced training, integrated sports-education and
institutional support and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the major differences identified between India’s approach to
balancing education with sports and that of the U.S. and China,
particularly concerning scholarships and university-level athlete
programmes;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen sports
infrastructure, coaching and grassroots talent identification, especially
in rural, urban and semi-urban areas of Maharashtra during the last three
years and the current year;
(d) whether the Government proposes to integrate sports with
mainstream education via dedicated sports schools, university tie-ups
or credit-based systems and if so, the details thereof; and(e) whether the Government plans to adopt best practices from the U.S.
and China through new policies, pilot projects or enhanced budgetary
allocations and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
[DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]
(a) The Government has not conducted any formal comparative analysis
of sports promotion policies in the United States (U.S.) and China
regarding advanced training, integrated sports-education and
institutional support.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development of
sports, including strengthening of sports infrastructure , coaching and
grassroots talent identification in the country, rests primarily with the
respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government
only supplements their efforts by bridging critical gaps.
The Government has taken various measures for achieving
excellence in sports in the country, including at the grassroot level. This
Ministry runs various schemes for the promotion of sports across the
country, including Maharashtra. These schemes include:
(i) Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports;
(ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs);
(iii) Cash Incentives to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and
their coaches;
(iv) National Sports Awards;
(v) Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons;
(vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for
Sportspersons;
(vii) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF);
(viii) Running Sports Training centres through Sports Authority of India
(SAI); and
(ix) National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).The details of these schemes are available in the public domain on the
website of the Ministry (https://yas.nic.in ).
The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved and their
sanctioned cost, funds released and their physical and financial
progress, under Khelo India Scheme and National Sports Development
Fund (NSDF) across the country, including in the State of Maharashtra,
are available in public domain on the dashboards of the Ministry at
https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-
glance.html.
Further, the Government has launched Khelo Bharat Niti 2025,
which seeks to create an inclusive and robust sporting ecosystem that
nurtures talent from the grassroots to the Olympic podium including
Olympics 2036.
(d) and (e) No such proposals are currently under consideration of the
Central Government.
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