Paper: GS – II, Subject: Governance, Topic: Government policies, Issue: Transformative potential of Khelo Bharat Niti.
Context:
Under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, sports have gained priority as a tool for national development.
Key Highlights:
Sporting goals:
- Olympics vision: India aspires to host the 2036 Olympics and become a global sporting powerhouse in the next decade.
- Hosting Global Events: The vision includes preparing to host multiple international sporting events, enhancing India’s global stature.
Khelo Bharat Niti 2025:
- Passed by Union Cabinet (July 1, 2025), it marks a transformative step in using sports as a tool for building a Viksit Bharat.
Five-Pillared Approach (Specific to Football):
Key aspects of the policy:
- Accessing Diaspora Talent: The policy references improving access to Indian-origin players abroad, including in OCI communities.
- AIFF-FIFA Collaboration: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and FIFA will work jointly with the government to strengthen the national team.
- Grassroot Talent Development: AIFF plans to nurture children from 8 years onward, gradually introducing them to professional training.
- Pathway Structure: Children advance through stages:
- Age 8–10: Basic access to football.
- Age 12–13: Entry into competitions.
- U17 & U18: High-performance training.
FIFA Football for Schools (F4S):
- Widespread Implementation: Programme made football accessible to over 1.53 lakh schools, distributing over 9.26 lakh footballs.
- Grassroot Empowerment: This initiative integrates logistics and grassroots training, enabling football at foundational levels.
- Issue of OCI Talent: There is a strong push for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders to play in the national team. Countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka have benefited from such dual-citizenship players.
- Constraints in India: OCI card provides limited rights and is not equivalent to an Indian passport (required for FIFA eligibility).
Thus, India must formulate ways to utilize diaspora talent while adhering to FIFA and Indian legal norms.
Conclusion:
National Sports Policy reflects a strategic, inclusive, and education-aligned approach to building Indian football.It ensures transparency, accountability, and nationwide sporting participation.India’s football future lies in grassroots development, diaspora inclusion, and visionary policymaking.
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