Government Schemes and Policies for Promotion of Sports and Women’S Sports in India

Sports administration in India operates under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to promote mass participation, athletic excellence, and gender parity. While ‘Sports’ is listed under Entry 33 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Central Government formulates national policies, provides financial assistance to National Sports Federations, and manages training facilities through the Sports Authority of India. Over the past decade, flagship initiatives such as the Khelo India Mission, Target Olympic Podium Scheme, and dedicated programs for female athletes have restructured grassroots talent identification and elite athlete support.

Flagship Umbrella Schemes for Sports Development

Khelo India Scheme

• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports implements this central sector scheme to rebuild sports culture at the grassroots level.
• Core Verticals: The scheme comprises 12 verticals including playfield development, community coach development, state centres of excellence, annual sports competitions, talent identification, and promotion of rural and indigenous games.
• Financial Support: Identified talented players receive financial assistance of ₹5 lakh per annum for eight consecutive years.
• Competitive Platforms: Organizes annual multi-sport national events including the Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, Khelo India Winter Games, and Khelo India Para Games.
• KIRTI Portal: The Khelo India Rising Talent Identification program utilizes IT-based testing to scout talent among school children across two distinct phases.

Target Olympic Podium Scheme

• Institutional Setup: Formulated in 2014 under the National Sports Development Fund to assist elite athletes preparing for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and Asian Games.
• Core Committee: The Mission Olympic Cell evaluates athlete performance, approves customized training plans, and selects beneficiaries.
• Financial Benefits: Core group athletes receive a monthly out-of-pocket allowance of ₹50,000, while developmental group athletes receive ₹25,000 per month alongside customized coaching, equipment, and international training exposure.

Fit India Movement

• Launch and Objectives: Launched on National Sports Day (August 29, 2019) to encourage physical activity and active living among citizens.
• Institutional Programs: Conducts nationwide campaigns like Fit India Freedom Runs, Fit India School Week, and active lifestyle benchmarks for educational institutions.

Dedicated Policies and Schemes for Women’s Sports

ASMITA Initiative

• Full Form: ASMITA stands for Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action.
• Rebranding: Formerly known as the Khelo India Women’s League, the initiative acts as an affirmative action platform under the Sports Authority of India.
• Structure: Organizes leagues across U-13, 13-18, and 18+ age categories across more than 30 sporting disciplines in over 250 locations nationwide.
• Digital Profile: Registers participants on the National Sports Repository System to track progress from grassroots to national competitions.
• Technical Capacity Building: Reserves 30 percent of seats in Sports Authority of India coaching diploma courses for women to build a pipeline of female coaches, referees, and competition managers.

SAI Gender-Inclusion Frameworks

• SAI Training Facilities: Operates National Centres of Excellence and SAI Training Centres with designated quotas and female-only residential wings.
• Specialized Training Support: Provides gender-specific sports science support, nutritional guidance, and dedicated training setups in sports like weightlifting, wrestling, athletics, and boxing.

Institutional Framework and Incentives

Key Infrastructure and Administrative Units

National Sports Awards and Financial Incentives

• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: The highest sporting honor given for spectacular and outstanding performance over a four-year period.
• Arjuna Award: Conferred for consistently performance and leadership qualities over four years at the international level.
• Dronacharya Award: Honors outstanding coaches in individual and team sports disciplines.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar: Awarded to corporate entities, sports control boards, and non-governmental organizations for promoting sports.
• Scheme of Cash Awards to Winners: Provides direct cash rewards to medalists in Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships.
• Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons: Grants a lifetime monthly pension to retired international sportspersons after attaining 30 years of age.

Key Facts to Remember

• Entry 33 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule places ‘Sports’ under state legislative jurisdiction.
• National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 every year to mark the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
• The Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2017-18 by merging Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, and National Sports Talent Search Scheme.
• The Target Olympic Podium Scheme was established in September 2014 under the National Sports Development Fund.
• ASMITA stands for Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action and functions as the dedicated women’s sports league under Khelo India.
• The Khelo India Games were declared an “Event of National Importance” under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007.
• The National Sports Development Fund was established in November 1998 under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890.
• The Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons provides monthly financial support to medalists once they turn 30 years old and retire from active sports.