‘Khelo Bharat Niti’ serves as a light for Indian football

India’s Sports Policy and Vision

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India’s sports has led to a significant increase in sports.

• India expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics and other international sporting events.

• The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 (National Sports Policy) is a significant policy milestone in transforming sports’ role in building a Viksit Bharat.

• The policy has a five-Pillar approach in football, including sports excellence, social development, economic development, community sports, and sports in education.

• The policy has been actively working on access to talent in India’s diaspora, a topic that has been a subject of active discussion.

• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) plans to work with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the government to strengthen the national team.

• The policy also addresses the demand for players with OCI cards in the national team.

• The AIFF plans to ensure the progress of talented individuals from eight years of age to senior level.

• The FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) programme has made football accessible to over 1,53,000 schools, bringing the game to the U8 level.

• The policy aligns with the National Education Policy, promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in Indian sports.