Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the release of a Draft Sports Policy on Thursday, designed to modernize and improve India’s current sports framework.
The draft is now available for public consultation on the ministry’s website, inviting feedback from stakeholders including state and union territory governments, as well as the general public.
Speaking at the fourth General Council meeting of the Khelo India Scheme, Mandaviya explained that the policy would serve as a model for states that do not yet have their own sports policies.
He also reviewed the progress of the Khelo India initiative and held discussions on enhancing sports infrastructure to improve athlete performance.
Mandaviya stressed the importance of a “Whole-of-Government Approach,” calling for better coordination among various agencies involved in talent identification and nurturing, including central and state government schemes, public sector undertakings, and national sports federations.
During the meeting, the minister directed the formation of sub-committees focused on athlete welfare, talent identification, and strengthening the sports ecosystem.
He highlighted the need for improving recruitment policies, athlete support systems, and grassroots talent identification.
आज खेलो इंडिया योजना की चौथी जनरल काउंसिल बैठक की अध्यक्षता की। साथ ही खेल नीति को पब्लिक कंसल्टेशन के लिये जारी किया।
प्रधानमंत्री @NarendraModi जी के नेतृत्व में हमारी सरकार देश में खिलाड़ियों की प्रतिभा को पहचानकर उन्हें आगे बढ़ाने, इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर को सुदृढ़ करने और खेल… pic.twitter.com/c8ChxiCed7
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) October 3, 2024
Mandaviya also announced the launch of a dedicated portal to provide information on sports recruitment across central ministries, with states encouraged to use the platform for advertising sports quota vacancies, improving transparency and accessibility.
Additionally, the minister reviewed the unified sports infrastructure database under PM Gati Shakti, instructing the collation of data from various entities to create a comprehensive inventory of sports facilities across India.