Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
As we embark on our journey to become Viksit Bharat by 2047, one of the most powerful forces shaping this vision is the rise of Indian Sports. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Indian sports is scaling new heights on the global stage. From grassroots to global podiums, Prime Minister’s vision has transformed India’s approach to sports, ensuring world-class support, modern facilities, and a transparent system that rewards talent and hard work.
Just recently, Indian athletes once again made the nation beam with pride through a series of extraordinary performances on the global stage. Whether it was the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in Gumi, South Korea, or the World Wrestling Ranking Series 4 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, our sports stars rose to the occasion with grit and glory. At the Asian Athletics Championships, the Indian contingent delivered a commanding performance, clinching 24 medals and smashing multiple national records along the way.
At the same time, our women wrestlers scripted a golden chapter in history, returning from Mongolia with a record-breaking 21 medals, their best-ever haul at a Ranking Series event. This success didn’t come overnight. India won only 26 Olympic medals in the first 23 editions (including pre-Independence). But in the last three editions alone—2016, 2020 and 2024—India bagged 15 medals. In the Paralympics, the rise is even more impressive, from just 8 total medals between 1968 and 2012, India has now won 52 medals in the last three editions, including a record 29 medals in Paris 2024.
These achievements are no coincidence. They are the result of a performance-driven ecosystem built over the last eleven years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought a clear and focused vision that every athlete, regardless of background, deserves access to world-class training, infrastructure, financial support, athlete-centric governance, and a transparent system to thrive. Since 2014, the Modi government has laid strong foundations through transformative reforms that have reshaped the landscape of Indian sports.
At the heart of these reforms is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014 to identify and support top athletes. What began with 75 athletes has now grown to support 213 sportspersons for the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, including 52 para-athletes and 112 athletes under the development category. New schemes have also been introduced to support athletes in disciplines that have traditionally received less attention. The Target
Asian Games Group (TAGG), introduced this year, supports 40 medal prospects in 10 disciplines such as fencing, cycling, equestrian, sailing, kayaking and canoeing, judo, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, and wushu.
Driving this performance is not just vision, but also significant financial commitment. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports budget has more than tripled in the last decade, from just Rs 1,219 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 3,794 crore in 2025–26. The Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2017 to develop grassroots infrastructure and promote year-round competition, has seen its budget increase to Rs 1,000 crore this year. These investments are nurturing talent and building a vibrant competitive ecosystem for young athletes.
National Sports Federations have also received unprecedented support. Financial assistance for hosting international tournaments and national championships has nearly doubled. Coaches’ support has been revised upward by 50 percent. Athlete dietary allowances have been increased to meet the rising demands of high-performance training.
These focused efforts are helping India diversify its medal potential and build depth across a wide range of sports.
One of the most impactful reforms has been the emphasis on transparency. All federations are now required to video record selection trials and publish selection criteria for major events two years in advance. This ensures fairness, builds trust among athletes, and keeps the system merit-based. Indeed athlete-centric reforms have been the key in recent sports policy formulation. Sports certificates are now issued through DigiLocker and linked to the National Sports Repository System, ensuring tamper-proof documentation for athletes. The Draft National Sports Policy 2024, along with the Draft National Sports Governance Bill currently in its final stage, aims to strengthen the sports ecosystem and bring athlete welfare at the centre of policy making. Age fraud is being tackled through new medical checks and stricter penalties. Federations are also required to appoint Integrity Officers to ensure better compliance and transparency.
In addition to Olympic sports, our traditional Indian sports like Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Yogasana, Gatka, and Thang-Ta are being revived and promoted through the Khelo India Games. Indigenous sports like Kabaddi and Kho-Kho are now receiving international recognition, proudly showcasing India’s rich sporting heritage.
The push for gender equity has also been significant. The ASMITA League (Achieving Sports Milestones by Inspiring Women Through Action), launched to promote women’s participation in sports, has expanded rapidly. From just 840 women athletes in 2021–22, over 60,000 women across 26 sports participated in 2024–25. The ASMITA League connects these athletes to the Khelo India pathway, giving them vital exposure and competition opportunities.
India’s sports infrastructure has also expanded at an unprecedented scale in the last 11 years. From just 38 infrastructure projects before 2014, the number has now risen to 350. The Sports Authority of India currently runs 23 National Centres of Excellence, training elite athletes under TOPS and Khelo India. Additionally, 34 State Centres of Excellence have been established across 33 States and UTs, along with 1,048 Khelo India Centres across 757 districts. These centres ensure that talent is discovered and nurtured from the grassroots level.
The Khelo India Games have evolved into a national movement. Nineteen editions have been held so far—including Youth, University, Para, Winter, and Beach Games—with more than 56,000 athletes participating. The Khelo India Para Games, in particular, have been game-changing, with many athletes from these competitions going on to win medals at the Paralympics.
Looking ahead, India is preparing for a potential bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games. To support this vision, new verticals under Khelo India such as the School Games, Tribal Games, Northeast Games, Water Games, Martial Arts Games, and Swadeshi Games are being launched to ensure year-round competition and talent discovery. Among these, the upcoming Khelo India School Games will play a pivotal role in bringing fresh talent into the sporting ecosystem by identifying and nurturing athletes from a young age.
And it is not just sports, community engagement in fitness has gained strong momentum through the Fit India Sundays on Cycle campaign, launched in December 2024. What began with just 150 participants has now expanded to over 10,000 locations, with more than 3.5 lakh citizens actively participating. The 25th edition, organised on June 1, was celebrated as a Tiranga Rally to pay tribute to the Armed Forces and mark World Bicycle Day. Over 75,000 citizens across 5,000 locations, including remote districts of Jammu and Kashmir, joined the rally.
These weekly events involve various groups such as doctors, government employees, teachers, and others to spread the message of fitness. Staying true to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Fit India Movement is taking the message of fitness to every household in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is for India to be among the top 10 sporting nations when we host the Olympics in 2036 and among the top 5 by the time we mark 100 years of independence in 2047. Much has been done to fulfil this vision, but a lot still remains to be achieved. To lay a strong foundation, major governance reforms have been implemented, which are crucial for the development of sports in the country.
India’s sporting revolution today is a story of vision, resolve, and inclusive growth. With our youth at the heart of this transformation, and under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is rising as a global sporting powerhouse. From medals to mindsets, the change is visible and the journey to Viksit Bharat is being powered by the spirit of sport.
(The author is Union Cabinet Minister of Labour and Employment and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports)
