PIB Summaries 11 July 2025

Content:

1. Khelo Bharat Niti 2025

Khelo Bharat Niti 2025

Strategic Vision and Integration

• Aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, this is a transformative policy integrating sports, education, inclusion, economy, and diplomacy.
• Anchored in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 — promotes curricular integration of sports, lifelong fitness habits, and physical education training.
• Envisions India as a global sporting powerhouse by 2036 (Olympics host + Top-10 nation) and Top-5 by 2047.

Relevance : GS 2 (Governance, Welfare Schemes and Inclusion)

Budgetary Commitment

• FY 2025–26 Sports Budget: ₹3,794 crore → 130.9% increase over FY 2014–15.
  • ₹2,191 crore for Central Sector Schemes.
  • ₹1,000 crore for Khelo India Programme alone.

Grassroots to Elite: Institutional Mechanisms

Khelo India Programme – Flagship Engine

• Launched: 2016–17, Extended: 2021, Budget till now: ₹3,790.5 crore.
• Achievements:
  • 326 sports infra projects worth ₹3,124.12 crore.
  • 1,045 Khelo India Centres (KICs), 34 KISCEs, 306 accredited academies.
  • 2,845 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) supported with training, diet, equipment, stipend, and medical care.
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KIRTI: Early Talent Identification

• Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) for children aged 9–18.
• Uses 174 Talent Assessment Centres (TACs).
• Pipeline to global elite training, Olympic medal goals.

Annual Games Ecosystem

• Includes:
  • Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) – 27 sports by 2025.
  • University Games, Para Games, Winter Games – 17 editions, 50,000+ athletes.
  • Khelo India School Games evolved into KIYG (backed by IOA).
  • 2023 & 2025 Para Games: 1,300+ athletes each.

Policy Innovations and Systemic Reforms

• Holistic athlete support: Nutrition, sports science, psychology, tech, and injury care.
• National Sports Federations (NSFs): Enhanced governance and accountability.
• Private Investment: Boost via PPP, CSR, sports startups, and creative finance.
• Sports Tourism and international event hosting for economic gains.

Equity, Empowerment, and Inclusion

• Women, tribal groups, disabled athletes prioritized.
• Siddi community success in athletics, boxing, judo with state support.
• Para-athlete Rohit Kumar highlights equal rewards, policy integration with education.

Sports-Education Nexus: A New Ecosystem

• National Sports University, Imphal (est. 2018):
  • Education in sports sciences, coaching, technology, management.
  • Global collaboration with Canberra & Victoria Universities.
  • Motto: “Sports Excellence through Education, Research and Training.”

New Frontiers and Diaspora Engagement

• 1st Khelo India Water Sports Festival (Aug 2025) at Dal Lake, Srinagar.
  • Features 5 water sports, 400+ athletes.
  • Expands into water sports excellence and regional talent.
• Engages Indian diaspora via international talent recognition and collaboration.

Policy Impact: Cultural Shift in Sports Perception

• From “extra-curricular” to mainstream career pathway.
• Sports now seen as a tool for:
  • Nation-building (unity, youth engagement)
  • Health and wellness (institutional fitness indices)
  • Social mobility and pride (rural & marginalized outreach)

Outlook: Toward Olympic Glory

• India’s approach is no longer medal-centric but ecosystem-centric.
• Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 fosters “Sports for All, Excellence for Few” model.
• Positioned to host Olympics 2036, powered by:
  • Mass participation + elite excellence
  • Infrastructure + human capital synergy
  • Institutional coherence + societal mindset shift

Obesity in India and the Role of Sports Policy

• Rising Obesity Trends:
  India faces a dual burden of malnutrition and obesity. NFHS-5 (2019–21) shows 24% of women and 22.9% of men (15–49 yrs) are overweight or obese—up from ~20% in NFHS-4.

• Urban Youth at Risk:
  Sedentary lifestyles, screen time, and junk food consumption have led to increased obesity among school and college students, especially in metros.

• Non-Communicable Disease Burden:
  Obesity is a major risk factor for NCDs like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. WHO warns that India may face a 10% NCD increase if youth inactivity persists.

• Fitness & Khelo India’s Role:
  Khelo India promotes Fitness Assessment Index in schools, encouraging active lifestyles and early health monitoring of children.

• Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 – Health Integration:
  Explicitly aims to embed fitness as a national movement, encouraging daily physical activity and structured sports participation from grassroots level.

• NEP 2020 Alignment:
  Sports and physical education are now part of the school curriculum, promoting lifelong fitness habits and reducing childhood obesity risks.

• Infrastructure & Accessibility:
  1,045+ Khelo India Centres and grassroots competitions create local access to physical activity spaces, especially in underserved regions.

• Behavioral Change through Sports:
  National campaigns under Khelo Bharat aim to reshape youth attitudes toward fitness, making sports aspirational and habitual.

• Community-Level Solutions:
  Initiatives like the Khelo India Fitness App, local tournaments, and school-level sports are geared toward reversing sedentary culture.

• Long-Term Vision:
  Tackling obesity aligns with India’s broader public health goals under Ayushman Bharat and National Health Policy, with sports as a preventive tool.

Facts & Figures Supporting Khelo Bharat Niti 2025

1. India’s Youth Demographic
   1. India’s population as of April 2025 is around 1.46 billion, with 68% in the working-age group (15–64 years) and 26% aged 10–24.
      Source: UNFPA State of World Population Report 2025

• Fertility Rate and Demographic Transition
  • India’s Total Fertility Rate has declined to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1.
    Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and UNFPA 2025 Update

• Union Sports Budget FY 2025–26
  • ₹3,794.30 crore allocated to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, a ₹351.98 crore increase over FY 2024–25.
    Source: Union Budget 2025–26, Ministry of Finance

• Khelo India Programme Allocation
  • ₹1,000 crore allocated to Khelo India, marking its highest-ever funding.
    Source: Union Budget 2025–26, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

• NSFs and SAI Funding
  • National Sports Federations received ₹400 crore; Sports Authority of India was allocated ₹830 crore.
    Source: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Budget Highlights 2025

• Sports Economy Projections
  • India’s sports industry projected to grow from $52 billion (2024) to $130 billion by 2030 at a 14% CAGR.
    Source: FICCI–EY India Sports Industry Report 2024

• Sports Equipment Sector Growth
  • Indian sports equipment market expected to reach $100 billion by 2027, up from $27 billion in 2020.
    Source: India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) and DPIIT Data

• SAI Talent Development Model
  • SAI supports athletes aged 8–25 under schemes like NSTC, STC, COE, and SAG for grassroots-to-elite progression.
    Source: Sports Authority of India Annual Report 2024

• 38th National Games – 2025
  • Held in Uttarakhand from Jan 28–Feb 14, 2025, with over 10,000 athletes in 35 disciplines.
    Source: Indian Olympic Association and Ministry of Sports

1. India’s Olympic and Commonwealth Aspirations
2. India formally expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics; Ahmedabad is bidding for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
   Source: Indian Olympic Association and International Olympic Committee communication, 2023–24

Conclusion :

• Strategic Shift: Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 transforms sports from a hobby into a structured, career-oriented, and nation-building tool aligned with NEP 2020 and the Viksit Bharat vision.
• Inclusive & Aspirational: By focusing on grassroots talent, infrastructure, and equity, it empowers youth, women, and marginalized groups, making sports accessible and aspirational.
• Global Ambition, Local Action: With robust funding and systemic reforms, the policy positions India to emerge as a global sporting power by 2036, while promoting health, fitness, and social cohesion at the community level.