PIB Summaries 27 September 2025

Content

1. India Welcomes the World: Para Athletics Championships 2025 in New Delhi
2. World Tourism Day 2025 – Tourism and Sustainable Transformation

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India Welcomes the World: Para Athletics Championships 2025 in New Delhi

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What is the News?

• India is hosting the 12th World Para Athletics Championships (27 Sept – 5 Oct 2025) in New Delhi at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
• First time India is hosting this global para-athletics event.
• Participation: 100+ nations, 1000+ athletes, 186 medal events.
• Major Indian medal hopes: Sumit (javelin), Preeti Pal (sprints), Praveen Kumar (high jump), Dharambir (club throw), Navdeep (javelin).
• Live telecast: DD Sports, Waves app (Prasar Bharati).

Relevance

• GS Paper II (Social Justice): Rights and empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
• GS Paper I (Society): Changing social attitudes towards disability, inclusivity in public life.
• GS Paper II (Governance): Role of state + international institutions in sports development.
• GS Paper III (Sports + Soft Power): National sports policy, para-sports as a tool of diplomacy.

Why is it Important?

• Sports + Social Justice Angle: Showcases inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment of differently-abled persons.
• Global Standing: India now part of the elite list of nations hosting para-sport mega-events.
• Sports Diplomacy: Enhances India’s global image as an inclusive sporting nation.
• Soft Power: Boosts India’s credibility in the Paralympic movement.

India’s Para-Sports Performance (Trend)

• Doha 2015: 2 Silver.
• Dubai 2019: 9 Medals.
• Kobe 2024: 17 Medals (6 Gold).
• Paris Paralympics 2024: 84 Medals (17 in Para-Athletics).
• Since debut at Tel Aviv 1968 Paralympics → 8 Golds in para-athletics.

Trend Analysis:

• Steady growth = result of institutional support (Paralympic Committee of India, govt schemes, private sponsorships).
• Home soil advantage in 2025 could yield record performance.

Institutional and Policy Framework

• Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) – governs para-athletics in India.
• Schemes aiding para-athletes:
  • Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) – extended to para-athletes.
  • Khelo India Scheme – includes differently-abled categories.
  • Scholarships + job quotas under Dept. of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
• Infrastructure upgrades: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium fitted with MONDO track, accessibility-friendly facilities.

History of Para-Athletics

• 1950s – Stoke Mandeville Games
  • Started by Sir Ludwig Guttmann (UK) for WWII veterans.
  • Sports (archery, javelin) used for rehabilitation → birth of para-sport.
• 1960 – Rome Paralympics (Formal Debut)
  • First Paralympic Games, 25 medal events in athletics.
• Expansion Phase
  • 1964 Tokyo → Wheelchair racing introduced.
  • 1972 Heidelberg → Events for visually impaired athletes.
  • 1976 Toronto → Amputee athletes included.
  • 1980s – Inclusivity & Endurance
    • Classification system developed.
  • 1984 → Marathon debut.
    • Athletes with cerebral palsy included.
  • 1990s – Globalisation
  • 1994: First World Para Athletics Championships (Berlin).
    • Para-athletics became the largest Paralympic sport.
• Governing Body
  • World Para Athletics, under International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Bonn, Germany.
• Today
  • Events for athletes with spinal, limb, visual, cerebral, and intellectual impairments.
  • High-tech prosthetics & wheelchairs enhanced performance.

Broader Implications

• Social: Normalises disability → inspires youth, breaks stereotypes.
• Economic: Boost to sports economy, infrastructure, tourism.
• Political/Diplomatic: Enhances India’s global brand as an inclusive democracy.
• Legal: Aligns with Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and India’s obligations under UNCRPD.

Conclusion

The World Para Athletics Championships 2025 is not just a sporting event but a symbol of inclusivity, resilience, and global integration. For India, it reinforces the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, demonstrates soft power, and strengthens the ecosystem of para-sports. The long-term legacy lies not in medal counts alone but in mainstreaming inclusivity into society, aligning sports with the constitutional goal of justice, equality, and dignity for all.

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World Tourism Day 2025 – Tourism and Sustainable Transformation

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Basics

• Date: 27th September (since 1980).
• Significance: Marks adoption of UNWTO statutes (1970).
• Theme (2025): “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”.
• Host (2025): Malaysia (Melaka, Sept 27–29).
• Global Relevance: Tourism as a tool for cultural exchange, economic growth, SDGs, and sustainability.

Relevance

• GS Paper II (Governance): Tourism policies, inter-ministerial coordination (Tourism + Tribal Affairs), policy support for rural & tribal livelihoods.
• GS Paper III (Economy): Tourism as a driver of growth, MICE sector expansion, infrastructure push, employment generation.
• GS Paper I (Society & Culture): Promotion of tribal & rural homestays, preservation of cultural heritage, inclusivity in tourism.
• GS Paper II/III (Social Justice & Inclusive Growth): Financial support (Mudra loans, funding for tribal households), empowerment of marginalized communities through tourism.

Historical Context

• 1970: UNWTO statutes adopted.
• 1980: First WTD observed.
• Purpose: Highlight tourism’s role in socio-economic development and global peace.
• Now: Strong alignment with Agenda 2030 (SDGs) → jobs, inclusivity, climate action, gender empowerment.

Tourism in India

• Domestic Visits (Jan–Aug 2025): 303.59 crore.
• Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs): ~56 lakh (up to Aug 2025).
• Medical Tourism (Jan–Apr 2025): 1.31 lakh (4.1% of FTAs).
• Outbound Tourism (till June 2025): 84.4 lakh.
• Inbound Tourism (till June 2025): 16.5 lakh.
• Contribution to GDP (2023–24): ₹15.73 lakh crore (5.22%).
• Employment: 36.9 million (direct) + 47.7 million (indirect) = 13.34% of workforce.
• Forex Earnings (2025): ₹51,532 crore.

Flagship Schemes & Initiatives

1. Swadesh Darshan (2014)
   1. Thematic circuits: Ramayana, Buddhist, Coastal, Tribal, Himalayan, Heritage.
   1. 76 projects sanctioned; 75 completed.
2. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (2023)
   1. Focus: sustainable destinations (tourist + destination centric).
   1. 52 projects, ₹2108.87 crore sanctioned.
   1. Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) → 42 destinations, 36 approved projects by 2026.
3. PRASHAD (2014)
   1. Pilgrimage infrastructure & spiritual heritage.
   1. 54 projects in 28 states/UTs worth ₹1168+ crore.
   1. Examples: Tripura Sundari Temple, Somnath Promenade, Hazratbal Shrine, Patna Sahib.
4. Dekho Apna Desh (2020)
   1. Promotes domestic tourism via campaigns, roadshows, webinars.
   1. ‘People’s Choice’ poll → citizen engagement.
5. Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-I 2023, VVP-II 2025)
   1. Tourism as tool for border area development.
   1. VVP-I: 46 blocks (19 districts) in northern border states.
   1. VVP-II: Budget ₹6839 crore till 2028–29; expands to ILB villages in 15+ states.
6. SASCI (2025)
   1. Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment.
   1. 40 projects worth ₹3295.76 crore with 100% central funding.
   1. Aim: develop iconic global tourist centres.
7. Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP)
   1. Skill training for local communities, women, tribals.
   1. Paryatan Mitra / Paryatan Didi initiative.
8. Digital Initiatives
   1. Incredible India Digital Portal & Content Hub (revamped 2024).
   1. AI-powered chatbot, booking integration.
   1. 294.76 crore domestic tourist visits logged (2024).
9. One India, One Registration (NIDHI portal, 2025)
   1. Objective: Improve service quality in domestic & international tourism.
   1. Homestay Classification:
      1. Gold Category & Silver Category under Incredible India Homestay Establishments.
      1. Covers rural and tribal areas.
   1. Funding Support:
      1. States/UTs can get up to ₹5 crore for 5–10 homestays per village (cluster of 5–6 villages).
   1. Budget 2025-26: Collateral-free Mudra Loans for Homestays announced → encourages rural/tribal tourism, boosts local entrepreneurship.
10. Tribal Tourism Circuits
    1. Funding for tribal homestays: up to ₹5 lakh for new rooms, ₹3 lakh renovation.
11. MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions)
    1. Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi positioned as hubs.
    1. India targets 5%+ share of $1.4 trillion global MICE industry by 2030.
12. Other Sub-sectors
    1. Festival Tourism: Utsav Portal.
    1. Adventure Tourism: 120+ new peaks opened.
    1. Wedding Tourism: “India Says I Do”, “Wed in India”.
    1. Cruise Tourism: Cruise Bharat Mission (2024–29), 51 circuits planned.
    1. Pilgrimage Tourism: Budget 2024–25 → 50 new destinations.
    1. Medical Tourism: “Heal in India” initiative, Ayurveda + Yoga integration.

Opportunities:

• Cultural diplomacy & soft power booster.
• Major forex earner & job creator (esp. women/youth).
• Growth driver for border villages & tribal regions.
• Synergy with Digital India, Skill India, Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Challenges:

• Overtourism & carrying capacity issues (Himalayan states, coastal belts).
• Environmental degradation (waste, water stress, fragile ecosystems).
• Uneven regional spread → over-focus on iconic sites.
• Need for last-mile connectivity (roads, rail, airstrips).
• Skilling gaps in hospitality workforce.
• Dependence on global shocks (pandemics, conflicts, climate).

Way Forward:

• Sustainability first: eco-certifications, green transport, waste management.
• Community-driven tourism: tribal, women-led initiatives.
• Diversification: MICE, wedding, cruise, adventure, medical tourism.
• Digital & Smart Tourism: AI-driven itineraries, immersive VR/AR experiences.
• Regional balance: promote NE, border, rural, eco-sensitive sites.
• Strengthen India’s global tourism brand through credible governance + PPP models.

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