Parliament Question: National Sports Policy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-787 ANSWERED ON- 05/02/2026 NATIONAL SPORTS POLICY 787. SHRI SATNAM SINGH SANDHU: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state : (a) the key objectives and features of the newly declared National Sports Policy; (b) the measures proposed under the policy to promote grassroots and rural sports development across the country; (c) the steps planned to improve infrastructure and training facilities for athletes at national and State levels; (d) how the policy aims to support and encourage women athletes and differently-abled sportspersons; and (e) the mechanisms included for monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impact of the policy? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA) (a): The Government has launched the Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 on 10.07.2025. The Policy 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". To realize this vision, the Niti focuses on several key objectives, the details of which are available in the public domain at https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Khelo-Bharat-Niti- 2025_0.pdf . (b) to (d): The Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025 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. The policy addresses the rural-urban gap by Page 1 of 2proposing improved access to basic training facilities, dedicated sports infrastructure and competition platforms for athletes from diverse sections of society, including women, persons with disabilities and economically weaker groups. It highlights the integration of sports with school education, encourages community participation and promotes collaboration among multiple stakeholders to broaden outreach and reduce barriers to participation. In addition, the policy outlines investments in modern sports infrastructure and structured training systems, along with the development of higher-level training centres intended to enhance the overall quality of athlete preparation. (e): ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the primary responsibility for promotion and development of sports, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. 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. Their performance including impact is assessed through third-party evaluations in accordance with the evaluation guidelines issued by the Department of Expenditure. ***** Page 2 of 2