India’s Sporting Transformation Through Policy Reforms, Global Achievements and Grassroots Development

Recent Developments:

• India’s sports ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation through policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, grassroots talent development and increased investment aimed at making sports a sustainable career option.
• The Commonwealth Games 2026 is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August 2026, with participation from athletes representing 74 countries and territories across 10 sports, including six fully integrated Para Sports disciplines.
• India has participated with a contingent of 124 athletes, comprising 78 men and 46 women, reflecting the increasing participation of Indian athletes in global sporting competitions.
• Recent policy measures such as Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, sports governance reforms and increased focus on sports manufacturing highlight India’s objective of developing a strong sporting ecosystem and supporting its ambition to host the Olympic Games 2036.

Evolution of Sports in India:

Ancient and Medieval Sporting Traditions:

• India has a rich sporting heritage, with references to archery, wrestling (Malla-Yuddha), horse riding, swimming, hunting and chess (Chaturanga) found in ancient texts such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Manasollasa and Mallapurana.
• During the medieval period, Mughal rulers promoted sports such as Chaugan (Polo), chess, Chaupar and hunting, while wrestling continued as a popular traditional sport.

Colonial Influence and Sports Nationalism:

• The British introduced modern organised sports such as cricket, football, tennis and golf, which contributed to the institutional development of sports in India.
• Sports also became a symbol of nationalism during the freedom movement, with Mohun Bagan’s historic football victory against a British regiment representing Indian confidence against colonial authority.

Post-Independence Sporting Growth:

• After Independence, India achieved important milestones such as winning the Olympic hockey gold medal in 1948, hosting the first Asian Games in 1951 and witnessing increased participation of women athletes in international competitions.

India’s Rise on the Global Sporting Stage:

Olympic Games:

• India’s Olympic performance has shown considerable improvement between 2016 and 2024 due to better athlete preparation, institutional support and targeted training programmes.
• India improved its medal tally from 2 medals at Rio 2016 to 7 medals at Tokyo 2020 and secured 6 medals at Paris 2024.
• Neeraj Chopra became India’s first Olympic athletics gold medallist after winning the javelin throw event at Tokyo 2020.
• Mirabai Chanu has emerged as one of India’s most consistent Olympic performers through her achievements in weightlifting.

Paralympic Games:

• India’s Paralympic performance has witnessed exceptional growth, with the medal tally increasing from 4 medals at Rio 2016 to 19 medals at Tokyo 2020.
• The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games marked India’s best-ever campaign with 29 medals, demonstrating the growth of para-sports in the country.
• Athletes such as Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil and Pramod Bhagat have played a significant role in strengthening India’s position in Paralympic sports.
• Initiatives such as Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India Para Games have improved financial, technical and training support for para-athletes.

Asian Games and Commonwealth Games:

• India has consistently improved its Asian Games performance through larger contingents and stronger medal-winning performances.
• India increased its Asian Games medal tally from 57 medals at Incheon 2014 to 69 medals at Jakarta 2018.
• India has remained one of the strongest performers at the Commonwealth Games, winning 64 medals at Glasgow 2014, 66 medals at Gold Coast 2018 and 61 medals at Birmingham 2022.
• Sports such as wrestling, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton and athletics have consistently contributed to India’s international success.

Importance of a Strong Sports Ecosystem:

Social, Economic and Strategic Significance:

• Sports provide a constructive platform for India’s large young population by promoting mental well-being, leadership qualities, discipline and teamwork.
• The sports sector acts as an economic driver by generating employment opportunities in event management, sports technology, physiotherapy, sports medicine, manufacturing and performance analytics.
• International sporting success enhances India’s soft power by strengthening national pride and improving its global diplomatic presence.
• Promotion of grassroots sports participation can help reduce Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and contribute towards creating a healthier workforce.

Constitutional Framework of Sports:

• Sports is a State Subject under the Constitution of India, and the primary responsibility for promotion and development of sports lies with respective State and Union Territory Governments.
• The Union Government plays a role at national and international levels through its residuary powers, including fulfilling international obligations and supporting elite sporting programmes.

Government Initiatives for Sports Development:

Khelo India Scheme:

• The Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2017 to create a strong foundation for sports development through grassroots participation, talent identification and infrastructure improvement.
• The scheme integrated three earlier programmes:
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan,
• Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme,
• National Sports Talent Search Scheme.

Target Olympic Podium Scheme:

• The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was launched in September 2014 to improve India’s performance at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• The scheme was strengthened in April 2018 through a dedicated technical support team that provides comprehensive assistance to elite athletes.
• TOPS supports athletes through foreign training, international competitions, coaching camps, specialised equipment and a monthly stipend of ₹50,000.

Khelo India Rising Talent Identification Initiative:

• The Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) initiative identifies and nurtures sporting talent among children aged between 9 and 18 years through scientific talent identification methods.

Recent Policy Measures:

• The Union Budget 2026–27 announced a dedicated initiative for sports goods manufacturing with an allocation of ₹500 crore to strengthen domestic sports production.
• The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 aims to improve athlete welfare and transparency by requiring National Sports Bodies to adopt Safe Sports Policy, Code of Ethics and internal grievance redressal mechanisms.
• The Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025 provides a long-term roadmap to transform sports into a mass movement and support India’s vision of becoming a developed nation.

Challenges in Indian Sports Ecosystem:

Infrastructure and Governance Issues:

• India faces unequal access to quality sports infrastructure, as world-class facilities are concentrated mainly in metropolitan cities while rural and tier-2/tier-3 regions often lack standard training facilities and equipment.
• Some National Sports Federations (NSFs) face challenges related to transparency, litigation, professional management and delayed implementation of athlete support programmes.

Skill Development and Career Challenges:

• India continues to face shortages of high-performance coaches, biomechanists, sports psychologists and nutrition experts, creating dependence on expensive foreign specialists.
• Non-cricket sports are still perceived by many families as financially uncertain career options despite improving sponsorship opportunities and professional leagues.

Way Forward for Strengthening Indian Sports:

Institutional and Infrastructure Reforms:

• The National Education Policy (NEP) should integrate sports into the core academic curriculum to identify and nurture talent from an early age.
• National Sports Federations should adopt independent athlete representation, transparent financial audits and professional management structures to improve governance.
• Regional sports science centres should be developed in collaboration with medical institutions to train local physical trainers, physiotherapists and performance analysts.

Private Sector Participation and Sports Economy:

• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) should be encouraged to increase investment in sports infrastructure, athlete development and specialised training facilities.
• Greater private sector participation can provide sustainable financial support and reduce excessive dependence on government funding.

Value Addition for UPSC:

Prelims Facts:

• Sports is included in the State List under the Constitution of India.
• The Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2017 to promote grassroots sports development.
• The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) supports elite athletes preparing for Olympic and Paralympic competitions.
• National Sports Day is observed on 29 August every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.

Mains Answer Enrichment:

• GS Paper II: Sports governance, institutional reforms, transparency and welfare mechanisms.
• GS Paper III: Sports economy, youth development, employment generation, infrastructure development and public-private investment.
• India’s sporting transformation requires a shift from medal-focused policies towards a comprehensive ecosystem based on grassroots participation, scientific training, professional governance and sustainable investment.

Conclusion:

• India’s journey towards becoming a global sporting power depends on strengthening grassroots systems, improving sports science, ensuring transparent governance and creating an ecosystem where sporting excellence becomes a sustainable career pathway.