State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 05 Jul 2025

National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025

Why in News? 

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, replacing the National Sports Policy of 2001. 

• The renewed vision anchored on five key pillars to transform India's sporting ecosystem.  

Key Points 

• Five Key Pillars of NSP 2025: 
  • Excellence on the Global Stage: 
    • Talent Development: Strengthens sports programs from the grassroots to elite levels through mechanisms for early talent identification and nurturing. 
    • Infrastructure & Competitions: Promotes competitive leagues and nationwide tournaments alongside the development of sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas. 
    • Support Systems: Establishes world-class systems for training, coaching, and athlete support, while enhancing the capacity and governance of National Sports Federations (NSFs). 
    • Science & Technology: Promotes sports science, medicine, and advanced technologies, along with the development of skilled sports personnel, including coaches, technical officials, and support staff. 
  • Sports for Economic Development: 
    • Tourism & Events: Promotion of sports tourism and hosting international sporting events. 
    • Industry & Innovation: Strengthens the domestic sports goods manufacturing ecosystem while encouraging startups and entrepreneurship in the sports sector. 
    • Investment & Collaboration: Boosting private sector involvement via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and innovative funding models. 
  • Sports for Social Development: 
    • Inclusive Participation: Targeted programs for women, tribal groups, underprivileged sections, and persons with disabilities. 
    • Cultural Promotion: Revitalization of indigenous and traditional Indian sports. 
    • Career Integration: Positioning sports as a viable career path through education integration, volunteering, and dual-career options. 
    • Global Engagement: Strengthening engagement with the Indian diaspora through sports initiatives. 
  • Sports as a People’s Movement: 
    • Mass Participation: Nationwide campaigns and community events to foster a fitness culture. 
    • Fitness Standards: Introduction of fitness indices for educational institutions and workplaces. 
    • Access to Facilities: Enhancing universal access to sports infrastructure and opportunities. 
  • Integration with Education: 
    • Curriculum Development (Aligned with NEP 2020): Inclusion of sports in formal school education. 
    • Educator Training: Specialized training programs for educators and physical education teachers. 
  • Strategic Framework: 
    • Governance: Robust legal and regulatory framework to ensure transparency and efficiency. 
    • Funding & Private Sector Support: Engagement of private entities through innovative financing and CSR models. 
    • Technology & Innovation:  Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and emerging technologies for monitoring and performance enhancement. 
    • Monitoring & Evaluation: National Monitoring Framework with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), benchmarks, and time-bound goals. 
    • Model Policy for States: NSP 2025 to act as a blueprint for states and UTs to align their sports policies. 
    • Whole-of-Government Approach: Integration of sports objectives into all government departments and schemes. 

Uttar Pradesh Sports Policy 2023 

Uttar Pradesh’s New Sports Policy 2023 focuses on holistic athlete development, institutional integration, and robust infrastructure to strengthen the state’s sporting ecosystem. 

• Key Points: 
  • Athlete Development: Emphasizes physical fitness and training with tailored, tier-based support for athletes at grassroots, developing, and elite levels. 
  • Institutional Linkages: Encourages the creation of new sports institutions and fosters collaboration with private academies and colleges. 
  • Infrastructure & Funding: Provides financial assistance to under-resourced sports bodies, promotes infrastructure development through PPPs—including 14 sport-specific Centres of Excellence—and plans to build stadiums and open gyms in rural areas. 
  • Governance & Facilities: Establishes a dedicated State Sports Authority and undertakes mapping of sports facilities and coaching resources across the state. 
  • Eklavya Sports Fund: Provides up to ₹5 lakh health insurance per registered player and supports overall player treatment and welfare. 
  • Khelo India Integration: Focus on leveraging Khelo India University Games for talent identification and facility development.