New Delhi: With an eye on bidding for the 2036 Olympics, the Union Cabinet approved a strategic roadmap named Khelo Bharat Niti on Tuesday that would serve as a guiding document for India’s elevation among the top five sporting countries.

The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 will supersede the National Sports Policy first introduced in 1984 and upgraded last in 2001 and would facilitate in formulating plans and schemes for betterment of the country’s sporting ecosystem.

It’s aim is to put best modern technical and administrative practices in place for India to be a strong contender to host the 2036 Summer Games.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the policy among other cabinet decisions.

“We have used the experience of the last 10 years and the new policy will work towards improvement of sports. Major objective is to make India a top-five sporting nation by 2047. That’s the overall objective,” he said.

“The PM has given a different kind of emphasis to sports, especially in rural areas. It’s a well thought through policy which addresses all matters related to sports. It also includes the framework for sports governance.”

India has submitted a letter of intent in October 2023 to host host the 2036 Olympics and is keen to undertake a massive infrastructural push to host top international sporting events in the country.

‘Landmark day’

“Today is a landmark day for India’s efforts to encourage sporting talent and become a hub for sports! The Cabinet has approved Khelo Bharat Niti, a national policy for sports,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on social media platform X.

“This policy is anchored on 5 pillars: Excellence on the Global Stage, Sports for Economic Development, Sports for Social Development, Sports as a People’s Movement, Integration with Education (NEP 2020). May Indian sporting talent always flourish!”

The new policy has been put in place after discussions with all stakeholders involving central ministries, NITI Aayog, state governments, national sports federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders.

Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya described it as a step that would transform India’s sporting ecosystem.

“This landmark policy outlines a strategic roadmap to promote sports culture at the grassroots, enhance infrastructure, support athlete development, and establish India as a formidable force in global sports,” he wrote on X.