**Executive Summary:**
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports addressed questions regarding the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, launched on July 1, 2025, and its impact on sports development, particularly in Andhra Pradesh. The policy aims to strengthen grassroots sports infrastructure, identify talent, promote inclusive participation, encourage private sector involvement, and integrate sports into education. The Union Government supplements State efforts through various schemes, with States/UTs holding primary responsibility for sports promotion.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 Objectives:**
* Develop a robust talent identification system.
* Ensure equitable access to sports infrastructure.
* Provide athlete-centric support systems.
* **Government Schemes:**
* Khelo India Scheme
* Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
* Assistance to National Sports Federations Scheme
* Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare program for Sportspersons
* Scheme of sports fund for Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons
* Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches.
* **Coaching Support:**
* Support given to States for Khelo India Centre (KIC) and Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE), including coaching.
* 926 Past Champion Athletes (PCAs) engaged as coaches/mentors at KICs, with capacity-building programs offered.
* Support for coaches through Assistance to National Sports Federations and Running Sports Training Centres via the Sports Authority of India.
* **Inclusive Sports:**
* Ensuring equitable access to sports infrastructure for all, including athletes with disabilities and economically weaker sections.
* Mandating adherence to guidelines in "Accessible Sports Complex and Residential Facilities for Sports Persons with Disabilities."
* **Private Sector Involvement:**
* Encouraging private sector involvement through CSR, engaging with Corporates/PSUs, and participating in CSR Conclaves.
* Utilizing the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for sports development.
* **Integration of Sports in Education:**
* The Department of School Education and Literacy introduced the Samagra Shiksha scheme promoting sports, physical activities, yoga, and co-curricular activities.
* Grants provided to government schools for sports equipment, with additional grants for medal winners in Khelo India National School Games.
* Revised sports guidelines aligned with NEP 2020 emphasize daily sports activities, indigenous games, and infrastructure development.
* **Athlete Identification and Support:**
* The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) under SAI identifies and oversees athletes under TOPS.
* Support extended to athletes with the potential to win medals at the Olympics and Asian Games, including those from Andhra Pradesh.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State/Union Territory Governments:**
* *Impact:* Primarily responsible for sports promotion and development, including improving coaching availability and access to sports facilities.
* *Action Required:* Implement and oversee sports development initiatives, including those related to coaching and infrastructure.
* **Athletes (Including those with disabilities and from economically weaker sections):**
* *Impact:* Increased access to sports infrastructure, coaching, and support systems. Potential for talent identification and development.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available resources and opportunities to participate in sports and develop their skills.
* **Schools and Higher Education Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Integration of sports and physical education into the curriculum, with funding available for sports equipment and infrastructure.
* *Action Required:* Implement revised sports guidelines, promote daily sports activities, and develop sports infrastructure.
* **Private Sector (Corporates/PSUs):**
* *Impact:* Opportunities to contribute to sports development through CSR initiatives and the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
* *Action Required:* Engage with the Department of Sports, participate in CSR conclaves, and contribute to the NSDF.
* **Sports Authority of India (SAI):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for identifying and supporting athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) through the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC).
* *Action Required:* Continue to identify and support athletes with the potential to win medals at international events.
Key Entities Referenced
Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025: A policy by the Government of India aimed at strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure and enabling early talent identification.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in relation to the implementation of sports development initiatives.
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy on education in India, under which structured sports and physical education have been integrated into educational institutions.
Olympics: An international multi-sport event, a target event for athletes identified and supported by the government.
Asian Games: A continental multi-sport event, a target event for athletes identified and supported by the government.
Khelo India Scheme: A sports scheme by the Government of India that supports States Khelo India Centre KIC and for Khelo India State Centre of Excellence KISCE including for coaching.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme TOPS: A scheme by the Ministry to select and extend support to athletes with the potential to win medals at the Olympics and Asian Games.
Sports Authority of India SAI: An organization functioning under the Ministry, responsible for identifying and overseeing athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme TOPS.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2318
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025
2318. Shri Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu:
Shri G M Harish Balayogi:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) the measures proposed to be taken by the Government under Khelo
Bharat Niti, 2025 to strengthen grassroots sports infrastructure and
enable early talent identification in rural/tribal and aspirational districts
of Andhra Pradesh, especially under Entrepreneurship Skill
Development Programmes (ESDPs);
(b) the steps taken by the Government to improve availability of
qualified coaches in districts with limited access to sports facilities,
including initiatives at panchayat/block levels;
(c) the initiatives under the said policy to promote inclusive sports
participation among persons with disabilities and economically weaker
sections in Andhra Pradesh, including accessible infrastructure and
financial support;
(d) the measures being taken by the Government to encourage private
sector involvement in sports development through Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR), Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the support
provided to sports startups in underserved areas;
(e) whether structure sports and physical education have been
integrated into the schools and higher education institutions in AndhraPradesh under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and if so, the
details thereof; and
(f) the manner in which athletes from Andhra Pradesh are being
identified and supported for participation in global events such as the
Olympics and Asian Games?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)
(a) The Government has launched the Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 on
01.07.2025, which aims at building a strong, inclusive, and performance-
driven sports ecosystem in India. Objectives of the Niti inter-alia
includes to develop a robust talent identification and development
system to nurture future champions, Ensure equitable access to sports
infrastructure across the country and Provide athlete-centric support
systems for the holistic development of sportspersons. ‘Sports’ being a
State subject, the responsibility for promotion and development of
sports rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory (UT)
Governments. However, the Union Government supplements their
efforts through its various schemes/programmes viz., (i) Khelo India
Scheme (ii) Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) (iii) Assistance to
National Sports Federations Scheme (iv) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay
National Welfare program for Sportspersons (v) Scheme of sports fund
for Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons, and (vi) Scheme of Cash
Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their
Coaches. Details of all these schemes are available in public domain on
the website of this Ministry at https://yas.nic.in/sports/schemes.
(b) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development of
sports, including improving availability of qualified coaches in districts
with limited access to sports facilities, including initiatives at
panchayat/block levels, rests primarily with the respective State/Union
Territory Governments. The Union Government only supplements their
efforts by bridging critical gaps. Under Khelo India Scheme, support is
given to States’ Khelo India Centre (KIC) and for Khelo India State
Centre of Excellence (KISCE) including for coaching. At present 926Past Champion Athletes (PCAs) have been engaged as coaches and
mentors at KICs. These PCAs undergo capacity-building programs,
including refresher and certificate courses at no cost, offered by Netaji
Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) Patiala and other
academies. In addition, this Ministry also supports coaches through its
other schemes viz. Assistance to National Sports Federations and
Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of India.
Details of these schemes are available in the public domain on the
websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.
(c) The objectives of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 inter-alia provides to
ensure equitable access to sports infrastructure across the country for
all athletes including athletes with disabilities and economically
weaker sections. The Government through various schemes as
mentioned in reply to Point (a) above bridge the gaps for athletes with
disabilities and economically weaker sections. Additionally, all sports
facilities are mandated to adhere to the guidelines outlined in
“Accessible Sports Complex and Residential Facilities for Sports
Persons with Disabilities,” ensuring the comfort and accessibility of
facilities for athletes with disabilities.
(d) Department of Sports encourages private sector’s involvement in
sports development by actively engaging with Corporates/PSUs and
participating in several CSR Conclave and other events. The
Department also has National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) where
contribution of CSR Funds from Corporates/PSUs are received and
utilized for the development of sports.
(e) The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of
Education, has introduced the Samagra Shiksha scheme to promote
holistic development in children, incorporating sports, physical
activities, yoga, and co-curricular activities. Under this scheme, grants
ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 25,000 are provided to government schools
annually for sports equipment, with an additional grant of upto Rs.
25,000 per school available, if at least two students win medals in the
Khelo India National School Games. In line with the National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendations, the scheme’s sports guidelines
were revised in August 2023 to emphasize on daily sports activities,indigenous games, procurement of age-appropriate equipment,
infrastructure development, and the role of sports committees and
physical education teachers. These updated guidelines have been
shared with States and Union Territories including the state of Andhra
Pradesh.
(f) The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), functioning under the Sports
Authority of India (SAI), is responsible for identifying and overseeing
athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Through this
scheme, the Ministry selects and extends support to athletes with the
potential to win medals at the Olympics and Asian Games, including
those from Andhra Pradesh. These athletes receive personalized
assistance based on the specific requirements of their sporting
discipline.
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