Content :
- National Sports Policy 2025
- Cabinet Approves Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme
National Sports Policy 2025
Overview
- Approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
- Replaces the National Sports Policy, 2001.
- Aims to make India a global sporting powerhouse and strong Olympic contender by 2036.
- Formulated through extensive stakeholder consultations (Ministries, NITI Aayog, States, NSFs, athletes, experts, and public).
Core Pillars of NSP 2025
Excellence on the Global Stage
- Early talent identification & nurturing from grassroots to elite.
- Establish competitive leagues & boost sports infrastructure.
- Promote world-class training, sports science, and athlete support systems.
- Strengthen governance of National Sports Federations.
- Develop high-quality human resources (coaches, officials, support staff).
Sports for Economic Development
- Promote sports tourism and host global events.
- Boost sports manufacturing and startups.
- Encourage PPP, CSR, and innovative funding models.
Sports for Social Development
- Focus on inclusion: women, marginalized groups, tribals, PwDs.
- Promote indigenous & traditional games.
- Integrate sports with education and career opportunities.
- Engage the Indian diaspora through sports outreach.
Sports as a People’s Movement
- Launch mass campaigns for fitness and sports culture.
- Implement fitness indices for institutions.
- Ensure universal access to sports facilities.
Integration with Education (NEP 2020)
- Embed sports into school curricula.
- Train educators & PE teachers to promote sports education.
Strategic Implementation Framework
- Governance: Legal and regulatory reforms for better sports governance.
- Private Sector: Emphasis on PPP, CSR, and new financing models.
- Technology: Use of AI, data analytics, and digital tools for performance & program delivery.
- Monitoring: National KPIs, benchmarks, and time-bound targets.
- Model for States: Encourages States/UTs to align their policies with NSP 2025.
- Whole-of-Government Approach: All ministries to integrate sports promotion in their schemes.
Vision and Impact
- Holistic development of citizens through sports.
- Positions India for global sporting excellence.
- Catalyzes economic, social, and educational transformation via sports.
Linked Themes & Facts
NEP 2020
- NSP integrates sports in school curricula.
- Fact: Only 42.1% of schools had playgrounds (UDISE+ 2021).
Khelo India
- NSP scales grassroots talent programs.
- Fact: ₹1,045 crore allocated in Budget 2024–25; over 3,200 athletes identified.
Olympic Vision (2036)
- Goal: Top-10 Olympic finish.
- Fact: India won 7 medals in Tokyo 2020; ranked 55th.
Sports Economy
- Boosts sports manufacturing, tourism, startups.
- Fact: Sports goods exports: ₹2,894 crore (2022–23).
SDG Alignment
- Focus on inclusion: women, tribals, PwDs.
- Fact: Female participation in sports < 30% in many states.
Digital India
- Uses AI, data analytics for training & tracking.
- Aligned with India’s tech-driven governance model.
Cabinet Approves Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme
Overview
- Approved by Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
- Aims to generate 3.5 crore jobs in 2 years (Aug 2025–July 2027).
- Focus on first-time employees, job creation, and formalization across sectors, especially manufacturing.
- Total outlay: ₹99,446 crore, part of the larger ₹2 lakh crore employment package for 4.1 crore youth (Budget 2024–25).
Relevance :
Part A: Incentives for First-Time Employees
- Targets 1.92 crore first-time EPFO-registered employees.
- Incentive: One month’s EPF wage (up to ₹15,000) in two installments:
- 1st after 6 months of continuous employment.
- 2nd after 12 months + completion of financial literacy program.
- Eligibility: Employees with salary up to ₹1 lakh/month.
- Partial amount kept in deposit/savings account to promote savings habit.
Part B: Incentives for Employers
- Applicable across all sectors, with extended benefits for manufacturing.
- Employers must hire:
- Min. 2 employees (if workforce < 50),
- Min. 5 employees (if workforce ≥ 50),
- Employment must be sustained for at least 6 months.
Incentive Structure (per employee per month):
| EPF Wage Slab | Incentive to Employer |
| Up to ₹10,000 | Up to ₹1,000 |
| ₹10,001 to ₹20,000 | ₹ 2,000 |
| ₹20,001 to ₹1,00,000 | ₹ 3,000 |
- Tenure of Incentive:
- 2 years for all sectors.
- 4 years for manufacturing sector.
- Expected to benefit around 2.6 crore additional employees.
Payment Mechanism
- Part A (Employees): Paid via DBT using Aadhaar Bridge Payment System (ABPS).
- Part B (Employers): Paid into PAN-linked business accounts.
Expected Outcomes
- 3.5 crore jobs over 2 years.
- 1.92 crore youth to receive direct benefit as first-timers.
- Boost to formal employment and social security coverage.
- Strong push to manufacturing and private sector hiring.
ELI Scheme
- Budget 2024–25: Part of ₹2 lakh crore youth employment package targeting 4.1 crore beneficiaries.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: Incentivizes manufacturing jobs—4-year support to boost domestic industry.
- EPFO & Formalization: Promotes formal jobs with EPF coverage—aligns with Social Security Code 2020.
- Digital India: Uses Aadhaar-based DBT and ABPS for transparent, real-time payments.
- Skill India: Links incentives to financial literacy—integrates soft skills with job entry.
- Unemployment Solution: Tackles youth joblessness—targets 3.5 crore new jobs by 2027.
- PM Gati Shakti: Boosts job growth in industrial corridors and manufacturing clusters.
- Women in Workforce: Opens scope for targeted hiring to raise female labour participation (~25%).
