A have a look at India’s sports activities coverage journey submit independence | Defined

The story up to now: Sport in India can hint its roots again to pre-historic instances, when bodily abilities that at the moment are foundational to fashionable sports activities had been then integral to every day life. As hunters and gatherers, people relied on skills like archery, wrestling, swimming, and climbing, not for recreation, however for survival. These have now developed into the person and workforce sports activities that we’re aware of right now.

How did sports activities do submit 1947?

India’s sports activities coverage journey since 1947 have to be seen within the context of the nation’s broader socio-economic growth. Submit the British Raj, India’s prime focus was on rebuilding the nation by addressing poverty, well being, and training. It’s due to this fact comprehensible that sectors like sports activities didn’t function prominently within the nationwide agenda. Even so, India hosted the primary Asian Video games in New Delhi in 1951, a daring assertion of the nation’s regional aspirations and mushy energy. In 1954, the federal government arrange the All-India Council of Sports activities (AICS) to advise on sports activities issues, assist federations, and fund elite athletes.

Nevertheless, allocations had been modest, leading to athletes lacking worldwide competitions resulting from a scarcity of monetary assist. For practically three a long time, nothing notable transpired on the coverage entrance. But, India’s males’s hockey workforce dominated the Olympics from 1920 to 1980. And Indian athletics noticed stars emerge resembling Milkha Singh (200/400m), Gurbachan Singh (decathlon), Praveen Kumar Sobti (discus and hammer throw), and Kamaljeet Sandhu, the primary Indian girl to win a person gold medal on the Asian Video games.

When did India’s sports activities coverage start?

The 1982 Asian Video games catalysed change. The federal government created a devoted Division of Sports activities underneath the Ministry of Human Useful resource Improvement. Driving the post-Video games momentum, India lastly unveiled its first Nationwide Sports activities Coverage (NSP) in 1984. The NSP 1984 aimed to enhance infrastructure, promote mass participation, and lift requirements in elite sports activities. It additionally pressured the significance of integrating sports activities with training, which was formalised within the 1986 Nationwide Training Coverage. That very same 12 months, the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) was established to implement coverage, and athlete growth packages.

Whereas international sports activities ecosystems developed quickly between 1986 and 2000, they remained tepid in India. Sports activities is a ‘State’ topic within the Structure and although the Union authorities had earmarked it a modest price range, the involvement of society and markets had been minimal. Insurance policies remained weak, and implementation inconsistent. India’s economic system too remained sluggish by means of the Eighties. Nevertheless, 1991 marked a turning level, with the emergence of liberalisation. This financial shift coincided with cultural modifications. Cable tv, international publicity, and a rising center class introduced better visibility and aspiration for sports activities. A Draft NSP in 1997 recognised this, proposing that States concentrate on broadbasing, whereas the Union focused on elite excellence. Nevertheless it by no means went past the draft stage.

How has sports activities developed post-2000?

In 2000, India created a devoted Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities (MYAS). A revised Nationwide Sports activities Coverage was launched in 2001, setting clearer objectives for mass participation and worldwide excellence. This era additionally noticed sports activities function within the Union Funds, albeit with a small allocation. India’s Olympic medal tally remained modest, with Rajyavardhan Rathore’s silver (2004), Abhinav Bindra’s gold (2008) and bronzes in boxing from Vijender Singh (2008) and Mary Kom (2012).

In 2011, the Nationwide Sports activities Improvement Code (NSDC) was launched, aiming to control and professionalise Nationwide Sports activities Federations (NSFs). It addressed governance, anti-doping, age fraud, betting, gender points and so on. however as all the time, implementation remained the hurdle.

Nevertheless, a number of impactful schemes had been launched over time — TOPS (Goal Olympic Podium Scheme 2014) offered elite athletes with teaching, diet, and infrastructure assist; Khelo India (2017) carried out youth expertise identification throughout faculties and universities; and the Match India Motion (2019) promoted bodily exercise and health as a public well being precedence.

Can India host the Olympics?

India’s intent to host the 2036 Olympics has ignited momentum. In 2024, the federal government launched each the Draft Nationwide Sports activities Coverage and the Draft Nationwide Sports activities Governance Invoice for public suggestions. Whether or not these make it to regulation stays to be seen. The excellent news is that yesterday the NSP 2025 was introduced, unveiled as “ Khelo Bharat Niti- 2025”, reinforcing India’s 2036 Olympic bid.

Equally, measures which have been deliberated for some time, just like the Draft Nationwide Code for Good Governance in Sports activities, 2017 ought to be given the go-ahead. India had the ignominious distinction of topping the newest international doping listing launched by WADA. It’s about time for all stakeholders to maneuver past self-interest and implement reforms for the bigger good of Indian sport. We should now prioritise scientific teaching, bodily literacy, and sports activities in training. Lasting change calls for sustained motion. Constructing a ‘sporting nation’ doesn’t occur in a single day. With Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, now we have a golden alternative to fast-track India’s long-term sporting ambitions. The query is, are we sport?

Malathi Renati is Head of Coverage College on the Takshashila Establishment.

Revealed – July 02, 2025 08:30 am IST