Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 Aims to Promote Inclusive Sports Across India

The Union Government has unveiled Khelo Bharat Niti-2025, a comprehensive sports policy aimed at promoting inclusive and equitable access to sports infrastructure across India, with a special focus on tribal communities, marginalized groups, women athletes, persons with disabilities, and rural populations.

The policy emphasizes establishing dedicated sports facilities tailored to the needs of these groups and organizing regular sporting leagues to enhance participation and engagement. It also seeks to bridge the rural-urban gap by improving access to training and resources for athletes from diverse backgrounds.

Integration of sports into school curricula, community participation, and partnerships with stakeholders are central to the initiative, aimed at reducing training costs and expanding outreach. Under the ASMITA – Sports for Women initiative, the government already supports leagues for women, particularly in underserved regions.

While sports development primarily rests with state governments, the Central Government supplements these efforts by providing expert coaches, sports equipment, training, boarding, lodging, competition exposure, insurance, and financial support to selected athletes.

Under the Khelo India program, athletes receive comprehensive support, including ₹6.28 lakh per annum per athlete, with a ₹10,000 monthly allowance. The Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) further enables participation in international tournaments.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, highlighted the initiative in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, stating that the policy aims to foster social development, inclusion, and sustained sports participation across all sections of society.