The Sports Ministry is urging National Sports Federations (NSFs) to form committees dedicated to strengthening international collaborations and promoting domestic manufacturing through the "Make in India" initiative. This directive aims to enhance India's standing in the global sports arena while also fostering self-reliance in sports equipment and infrastructure.
The Ministry envisions the international relations committees as key drivers in establishing partnerships for joint training programs and securing opportunities to host major international sporting events. By building strong relationships with other countries and international sports organizations, NSFs can facilitate the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and resources, ultimately benefiting Indian athletes and the overall sports ecosystem.
The "Make in India" committees, on the other hand, are expected to focus on encouraging local production and innovation within the sports sector. This includes promoting the manufacturing of sports equipment, developing indigenous technologies for training and performance analysis, and creating a supportive environment for Indian sports businesses to thrive. By reducing reliance on imports and fostering domestic capabilities, the initiative aims to make Indian sports more sustainable and economically viable.
This move by the Sports Ministry is in line with the broader government vision of transforming India into a global sports powerhouse. By focusing on both international collaboration and domestic manufacturing, the Ministry hopes to create a virtuous cycle of growth, where Indian sports benefits from global best practices while also contributing to the country's economic development.
In a related development from early 2025, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya outlined a comprehensive strategy for elevating sports in India, emphasizing transparency, infrastructure development, and increased corporate support, with the ultimate goal of improving India's medal prospects at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. During a meeting with NSFs and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Mandaviya stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in planning and infrastructure development, while also advocating for greater transparency and accountability within NSFs to ensure athletes' well-being. As part of this strategy, the Ministry plans to introduce a ranking system to assess NSFs based on factors such as sports performance and good governance, linking funding to these evaluations. Furthermore, the government intends to construct stadiums and sports infrastructure at the district and block levels through public-private partnerships, encouraging NSFs to seek corporate funding to advance their sports.
Furthermore, in March 2025, the Sports Ministry issued guidelines requiring NSFs to finalize and publicize their selection policies for major events like the Olympics and Asian Games at least two years in advance, ensuring transparency and fairness in the selection process. These guidelines also mandate a grievance redressal mechanism for athletes dissatisfied with selection decisions, with a resolution timeframe of within a week.
