Parliament Question: Khelo Bharat Niti and National Sports Policy, 2025

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2586 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 Khelo Bharat Niti and National Sports Policy, 2025 2586. SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL: DR. K SUDHAKAR: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI: SHRI BHARATSINHJI SHANKARJI DABHI: SHRI P P CHAUDHARY: SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA: SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI: DR. SANJAY JAISWAL: SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR: SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH: SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) the key objectives, priority areas and phased implementation timeline of the National Sports Policy, 2025 under the Khelo Bharat Niti, particularly for sports development in tribal areas; (b) the details of three-year targets fixed for strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure, including district-level sports centres, identification of players and training of coaches for the next three years, State/UT-wise, particularly in Pali and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies for tribal areas; (c) the manner in which the policy envisages long-term athlete development and structured preparation for the 2036 Olympic Games, including identified priority disciplines, high-performance training and provisions for athletes from the Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency; Page 1 of 4(d) whether any district-level interventions are planned for the Jalgaon Lok Sabha constituency to promote rural and school-level sports participation; (e) whether performance benchmarks or a monitoring mechanism or evaluation framework have been notified to assess outcomes under the policy, particularly for tribal areas and the Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency and, if so, the details thereof; (f) whether the Government has taken any steps to strengthening sports infrastructure, talent identification and training facilities in Delhi, particularly in the North-East Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency, if so, the details thereof; and (g) whether the Government proposes to establish an international- level sports training centre or Sports Authority of India (SAI) sub- centre in Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha Constituency? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA] (a): The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 aims at building a strong, inclusive, and performance-driven sports ecosystem in India. The vision of the Niti is "Sports for Nation Building Harness the Power of Sports for Nation's Holistic Development”. The key objectives of the policy, inter-alia, include ensuring equitable access to sports infrastructure across the country and establishing comprehensive sports programmes for all participation groups, from grassroots to elite levels, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, rural areas and women athletes from around the country, and promoting social development and inclusion through sports. The policy also includes provisions aimed at strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure and supporting early talent identification across urban and rural areas, with a focus on widening access to sporting opportunities. For detailed objectives and features, Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 may be referred, copy of which is readily available in the public domain on the website of this Ministry at https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Khelo-Bharat-Niti-2025_0.pdf. (b): Implementation of any policy is a continuous process. Further, ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the primary responsibility for Page 2 of 4promotion and development of sports rests primarily with the respective States/Union Territories. The Union Government supplements these efforts, in alignment with the National Sports Policy, through its ongoing schemes and programmes, which operate within defined guidelines and reporting frameworks. (c) to (e): The Policy aims to harness the potential of sports to drive excellence, economic growth and social progress while promoting the overall well-being of the nation’s citizens. Building upon the foundations laid by previous initiatives such as the National Sports Policy – 2001, the Khelo India Scheme and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the policy comprehensively seeks to create an inclusive and robust sporting ecosystem that nurtures talent from the grassroots to the Olympic podium including Olympics 2036. Preparation for the 2036 Olympic Games is envisaged through strengthening High-Performance Centres and focused support to priority Olympic disciplines. Athletes from all regions, including Nabarangpur and Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituency, are eligible to benefit under the relevant schemes, subject to selection and performance criteria. The policy further emphasizes the implementation of inclusive sports programs across all participation groups stating from the unit level and extending to educational institutions like schools, colleges, universities, etc. This involves developing structured sports programs that cater to different age groups, abilities and skill levels, ensuring that every individual has access to opportunities. Additionally, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has a clearly defined performance monitoring and evaluation framework to assess athlete progression and outcomes. (f): Under the “Creation and Up-gradation of Sports Infrastructure” component of the Khelo India Scheme (KIS) and National Sports Development Funds (NSDF), financial assistance have been provided for development of sports infrastructure such as synthetic athletic track, synthetic hockey field, synthetic turf football ground, multipurpose hall, swimming pool etc. have been sanctioned across the country, including in the UT of Delhi. The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved and their sanctioned cost, funds released and their physical and financial progress, under the KIS and NSDF, across the country are available in public domain on the Page 3 of 4dashboards of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html, respectively. Further, ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the primary responsibility for promotion and development of sports rests primarily with the respective States/Union Territories. The Union Government supplements these efforts, in alignment with the National Sports Policy, through its ongoing schemes and programmes, which operate within defined guidelines and reporting frameworks. (g): At present, no such proposal is under consideration for establishing a new international level training centre in Bhiwani- Mahendragarh. ***** Page 4 of 4