Sports in India

Sports in India has many facets. Sports is not merely an entertainment but an integral part of the all round development of personality which goes beyond physical and mental fitness of individuals and communities. As we know, a nation is known by its people. Happier, healthier and stronger the people, better becomes a nation in all respects whatsoever. Achieving excellence in sports has thus a great bearing on national prestige and morale. Having understood the importance of sports in our national life, India, as a nation, has lately been engaged ourselves seriously in promoting excellence in this area. Many policies and programmes are being implemented in this country and infrastructures are being developed, but our efforts fall short of the challenges we are facing at all levels – village, national or International. All the more, modern sports scenario has become highly competitive which demands use of modern infrastructure, equipment and advance scientific support at the international level. We, thus, need to provide the necessary assistance to the sportspersons by way of training and exposure in international competitions.

Physical education, games and sports have although been receiving attention over successive plans in India, the real impetus came only after we hosted IX Asian Games in 1982. Even the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was initially set up as the Department of sports at the time of organization of the event. Its name was changed to the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports during celebration of the International Youth Year, 1985. It became a Ministry on May 27, 2000.

Sports as a subject of policy started attracting our greater attention after the event. The first National Sports Policy came into being in 1984 which can be considered as the first move towards developing an organized and systematic framework for the development and promotion of sports in the country. The policy could not lead us far due to its own shortcomings as well as the old mindset of the people who were in the helm of affair. However, it served as the precursor of the National Sports Policy, 2001, which is better than the earlier one. The National Youth Policy 1988 was also subsequently reviewed and replaced by the National Youth policy 2003. We are yet to have a Comprehensive Sports Policy for our country, although the draft of Comprehensive Sports Policy 2007 is ready.

Sports promotion is primarily the responsibility of the various National Sports Federations which are autonomous. The role of the Government is to create the infrastructure and promote capacity building for broad-basing sports as well as for achieving excellence in various competitive events at the national and international levels.

Government of India formulated National Sports Policy in 2001 and subsequently the National Sports Code of 2011.

National Sports Policy 2001

The twin planks of the National Sports Policy 2001 are “Broad-basing” and “Achieving Excellence” in Sports both at the national and the international levels.

The salient features of the Policy are –
1. Broad basing of Sports and achievement of excellence;
2. Upgradation and development of infrastructure;
3. Support to National Sports Federations and other sports bodies;
4. Strengthening of scientific and coaching support to sports;
5. Special incentives to promote sports;
6. Enhanced participation of women, scheduled tribes and rural youth;
7. Involvement of corporate sector in sports promotion; and
8. Promote sports mindedness among the public at large.

Sports Authority of India (SAI)
Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
Hockey India (HI)

National Sports Code 2011
The National Sports Code of 2011 outlines the guidelines and regulations governing the administration and development of sports in the country.

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