National Sports Policy 2024: Driving excellence and inclusivity in Indian sports

The draft National Sports Policy (NSP) 2024, prepared by the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, aims to leverage the power of sports for nation-building and holistic development in India.

It focuses on creating an inclusive, sustainable sports ecosystem from the grassroots to the elite level and achieving excellence on the global stage.

The NSP 2024 is a forward-looking policy designed to transform India’s sports landscape.

It takes a holistic approach by integrating sports with economic and social objectives while promoting inclusivity and mass participation.

By enhancing governance, fostering innovation, and engaging multiple stakeholders, the policy aims to position India as a global sporting powerhouse, ultimately contributing to the nation’s overall development.

Key Points:

Vision and Objectives:

The vision of NSP 2024 is “Sports for Nation Building – Harness the Power of Sports for Nation’s Holistic Development.”

It focuses on:

• Strengthening sports culture

• Using sports for economic and social development

• Making sports accessible to everyone

• Promoting health and well-being through mass participation.

The policy seeks to create a sporting ecosystem by organizing sports competitions at different levels, promoting physical literacy, and providing equal access to sports infrastructure across the country.

Major Pillars of NSP 2024:

The policy is built around five core pillars:

• Nation’s Excellence on the Global Stage: Focuses on enhancing infrastructure, talent identification, and fostering competitiveness on the international stage.

• Sports for Economic Development: Promotes industries like sports tourism, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship linked to sports.

• Sports for Social Development: Aims to use sports to promote inclusion, education, and health while supporting underrepresented groups such as women and differently-abled athletes.

• Sports as a People’s Movement: Encourages mass participation by engaging communities in sports activities, aiming to make sports a cultural movement.

• Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Integrates sports with education to nurture students’ holistic development, promoting both academic and athletic excellence.

Focus on Inclusivity in Sports

Inclusivity is a key focus of NSP 2024, which aims to ensure equal access to sports for all segments of society.

The policy emphasizes reducing barriers for underrepresented groups, such as women, tribal communities, economically disadvantaged groups, and differently-abled individuals.

Dedicated facilities, specialized programs, and competitions will be designed to address their specific needs, with initiatives like gender-specific leagues and tribal talent development.

By fostering participation across diverse communities, the policy seeks to create a more inclusive sporting culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Sports Programs and Leagues:

NSP 2024 advocates for structured sports programs and leagues at every level, from local communities to schools, colleges, and professional levels.

By building robust competition frameworks, it aims to foster a competitive spirit and create pathways for athletes to progress from grassroots to elite levels.

Economic Impact of Sports:

Sports are seen as a driver of economic growth. The policy encourages initiatives such as:

• Sports Tourism: Hosting major international sporting events to boost tourism and generate revenue.

• Sports Equipment Manufacturing: Promoting “Make in India” initiatives for sports equipment, aiming to create jobs and support local manufacturing.

• Sports Entrepreneurship: Supporting startups and innovation in sports through hackathons, incubator programs, and seed funding.

Technological and Institutional Strengthening:

The policy stresses the importance of sports research, innovation, and technology to improve sports training and infrastructure. Institutions like the National Sports Federations (NSFs) will be strengthened to ensure operational efficiency, professionalism, and financial sustainability.

Recognition of Athletes and Volunteers:

NSP 2024 plans to create frameworks for rewarding athletes and retired sports professionals. Volunteer programs, like the Khelo India Sports Activator, will also be promoted to engage youth in supporting sports activities.

Private Sector Engagement:

The policy encourages active participation from the private sector in sports development. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models will be employed to boost funding and innovation in sports infrastructure and management.

The ministry has welcomed comments and suggestions from the sports fraternity and the general public to the draft policy.

View the entire draft of the policy here: