The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports plays a major role in promoting sports in India. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) that works under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is responsible for the promotion of Sports and Games in the country. Authority formulates and implements a series of reforms and schemes to boost Sports development. The Government considers that people should involve sports and fitness-related activities in their daily routine for a better and healthier life. Even PM Narendra Modi has on numerous occasions urged people to give priority to sports and games in their everyday life. Sports play an important role in everyone’s life, be it athletes, sportspersons, students, youth or adults. It is essential for physical as well as mental development. Considering the importance of sports, the Government has launched several schemes and initiatives in the field of sports and games.

1. National Sports Day and List of Government
Schemes to promote Sports in India
National Sports Day 2019: India celebrated 29 August, to mark the birth anniversary of the
legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, who was born on August 29, 1905. The National
Sports Day is also known as the Rashtriya Khel Divas. On this Day, President confers the
National Sports Awards, National Adventure Awards, Arjuna Award, Khel Ratna,
Dronacharya Award and Dhyanchand Award to recognise the exceptional achievements of
Indian sportspersons. This year's list of National Sports Award winners included prominent
names like Ravindra Jadeja, Deepa Malik, Bajrang Punia and many others.
The National Sports Day is observed every year to spread awareness about the importance of
sports and games in the life of every individual. The Day remembers the national sports
personality Dhyan Chand who was one of the greatest field hockey players of all time.
Famously known as “The Wizard”, he displayed superb ball control and extraordinary goal-
scoring feats. He won three Olympic gold medals in Hockey field in the years 1928, 1932, and
1936. In his Sports career spanning over 22 years, he scored over 400 goals. He was conferred
with the third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan in 1956. He was born in Allahabad on
August 29, 1905.
When was 29 August proclaimed as National Sports Day?
The Union Government proclaimed 29 August as the country’s National Sports Day in 2012 to
commemorate Major Dhyan Chand and his achievements in the field of sports.
Schemes launched by Narendra Modi Government to promote sports in India
The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports plays a major role in promoting sports in India.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) that works under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is
responsible for the promotion of Sports and Games in the country. Authority formulates and
implements a series of reforms and schemes to boost Sports development. The Government
considers that people should involve sports and fitness-related activities in their daily routine for
a better and healthier life. Even PM Narendra Modi has on numerous occasions urged people to
give priority to sports and games in their everyday life.
Sports play an important role in everyone’s life, be it athletes, sportspersons, students, youth or
adults. It is essential for physical as well as mental development. Considering the importance of
sports, the Government has launched several schemes and initiatives in the field of sports and
games. Have a look at some of the schemes:
Fit India Movement

2. The scheme was launched on 29 August on the occasion of National Sports Day 2019 by Prime
Minister Modi himself at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
Khelo India Scheme
The Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2016 after the merger of three schemes - Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) and National Sports Talent
Search Scheme (NSTSS). The scheme aims to boost mass participation of youth in annual sports
games and competitions. Khelo India (National Programme for Development of Sports Scheme)
aims to achieve the twin objectives of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports.
The scheme strives to promote “Sports for All” as well as “Sports for Excellence". The scheme
was revamped in the year 2017 with an aim to mainstream sports as a tool for individual and
community development, economic development and national development.
Sports Talent Search Portal
Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu in August 2017 launched the Sports Talent Search Portal to
spot the best talent among the youth of India. The portal allows young people to upload their
achievements. Applicants who get shortlisted are then called for trials and the qualified
candidates then get to take part in the schemes of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
National Sports Development Fund
The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was formed in November 1998 by the then
Government to promote sports and games in India. The Fund was established under the
Charitable Endowments Act, 1890 to administer the funds for sports activities, tournaments,
competitions, infrastructure and training of the sportspersons. The Union Sports Ministry has
recently granted Rs 35 crore from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) to Sports
Authority of India (SAI) for the training of athletes taking part in the Target Olympic Podium
Scheme (TOPS).
High-level committee to address grievances of women sportspersons
In 2017 on the occasion of International Women Day (8 March), the Union Ministry of Youth
Affairs and Sports on constituted a committee under the chairmanship of AS & FA to address
and resolve the complaints and grievances of women sportsperson. The committee is also
comprised of athletes, advocate, a senior officer of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and a
sports journalist. All the members of the Committee are women.
Empowered Steering Committee on Sports
The Empowered Steering Committee (ESC) was constituted in January 2017 on the
recommendations of the Olympic Task Force. The Committee is responsible for preparing a
comprehensive action plan for effective participation of Indian players in the Olympic Games of
2020 (Tokyo), 2024 (Paris) and 2028 (Los Angeles).

3. Schemes of Sports Authority of India (SAI)
SAI also runs several schemes for promoting sports at junior and senior levels. The schemes
being implemented by the Sports Authority are National Sports Academy (NSA) Scheme, Centre
of Excellence Scheme, National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC), Army Boys Sports
Company Scheme, Special Area Games Scheme, and COME and PLAY Scheme. Under the
COME and PLAY Scheme, local people are encouraged to play sports and games at the SAI
sports centres and trained by SAI Coaches.
National Sports Awards Scheme
Every year, the Government acknowledges and honours sports personalities with the Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Dhyanchand Awards, and Dronacharya Awards for their
achievements and contributions as sportspersons and coaches in the field of sports.
Sports & Games for Persons with Disabilities Scheme
Under this scheme, the differently-abled sportspersons are trained in their field for conducting
sports competitions and assisting schools and institutes having differently-abled sportspersons.
Promotion of sports amongst School Students under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme
The Department of School Education and Literacy in April 2018 launched an Integrated Scheme
for School Education - Samagra Shiksha after merging Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya
Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). Under this new scheme,
Sports and Physical Education component is included to provide funds for sports equipment of
indoor and outdoor games in all government schools. The scheme aims for the holistic
development of children by encouraging their active involvement in Sports, Physical activities,
Yoga, and Co-curricular activities.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme
The Sports Ministry launched the ‘Target Olympic Podium (TOP)’ Scheme in May 2015 under
the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) to support the potential medal prospects for
Olympic Games of 2016 and 2020. The main focus is given to Athletics, Badminton, Boxing,
Archery, Wrestling and Shooting sports.
Fit India Gets New Impetus As Sports
Ministry Makes Sporting Infrastructure
Accessible To All

4. All SAI facilities will now be free for federations to hold
competitions and leagues. Also, non-SAI coaches can train
their athletes in sai facilities free of cost by booking training
slots online
With an effort to further the Fit India Movement and to make playfields and sporting
infrastructure accessible, without fee, to all sportspersons across the country from 1st November
2019, the Ministry of Sports has decided to allow national and state sports federations, leagues
and clubs to organise sports events in all sporting facilities owned by the government, free of
cost.
The sporting facilities will also be accessible free of cost to coaches training athletes who are not
part of camps organised in Sports Authority of India (SAI) centers. The decision was taken with
the view that people must have access to playfields and sporting infrastructure so that the culture
of playing sport and therefore of fitness, becomes a way of life for Indians.
In the first phase, stadiums in Delhi including Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi
Stadium, Major Dhyanchand Stadium and Karni Singh Shooting Range will be opened up for
state and national federations to host competitions, tournaments and leagues of all sporting
disciplines. The Federations and Leagues will not be charged for use of the facilities in these
stadia.
The new policy will also allow non-SAI coaches to train their athletes at the stadia without any
charge, provided that the coach has a minimum of at least 10 wards under his or her training.
Training sessions can be booked by a coach online from November 1 and the coach can charge a
reasonable training fee from his or her trainees.
Youngsters who aren’t training for any sport professionally will also have access to these stadia
and can play a game of their choice by advance online booking against available slots. They
would have to get their photo identity cards made from SAI at a nominal cost.
Speaking of this first-of-a-kind decision to provide access to government’s sporting
infrastructure to federations and the sportspersons free of cost, Minister of Sports and Youth
Affairs, Kiren Rijiju said, “The Sports Ministry is going all out to promote the Fit India
Movement, which has been envisioned by our Honourable Prime Minister. In India, there aren’t
enough playfields where children and those interested in fitness and sports can pursue a sport.
The Sports Ministry has at its disposal some of the best sporting infrastructures of the country,
and needs to be utilised for the benefit of promoting the sporting culture and ecosystem in the
country. We had a meeting with all NSFs and all of them are very happy with this decision, and
some of them have already submitted their plans to host leagues and tournaments in the coming
months. The intention of the ministry is to increase use of existing sports infrastructure by 3
times in the next 3 months. I am sure this step will not only promote fitness, but will also prompt
more youngsters to compete in sport and help us identify more talent for the country.”

5. To ensure focussed use of the available infrastructure, each stadium is being earmarked for a
specific sport. JLN will host football leagues, training and competitions organised by federations,
while IG stadium will be earmarked for wrestling, boxing, judo and badminton. Shooting
competitions will be hosted at KSSR and hockey and swimming at National Stadium.
The All India Football Federation and Hockey India have already charted out a roadmap for
conducting a number of leagues and competitions in the next three months. The first league in
the calendar is the Khelo India Golden League, underway at JLN, which will see football being
played by U-7, U-9 and U-11 boys and girls.
Speaking about the initiative of the government to open up its sporting infrastructure for larger
public use, Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, President, Football Delhi, says, “This step taken by the sports
ministry will help to popularise the game of football in the Delhi-NCR region in a big way. We
are starting with the Khelo India Golden League, and will soon be hosting the Khelo India Group
A and Group B division leagues for clubs in Delhi. We would further initiate a holistic coaching
programme for children in the age group of 5 years and above at JLN in which, over the next 3
months we expect more than 400 youngsters to participate.”
Cricket Vs Other Games in India
It’s bitter but very true that one single game blotting many others games in India. Cricket fever
overshadowed our national sport Hockey. There is no question of any debate that cricket is
killing other sports in our country. Indians eat, live, sleep, talk and walk cricket. Theoretically we
all know that hockey is our national game but in practical vision its cricket maniac all over.
No one remembers that in Shooting, Gagan Narang won four Gold medals in Common Wealth
Games2010, or Indian World Champion wrestler Sushil kumar has won the gold medal in FILA
2010 World Wrestling Championships or Olympic bronze medals won by tennis star Leander
Paes (Atlanta, 1996), but Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul, Harbhajan's hat-trick, and Virender
Sehwag's 309 will be evergreen in memory.
Its a common sight that young children are playing perfect cricket with bat and ball in lanes,
streets, gardens. But people don’t know how to play other sports or what are the rules for other
games? A budding sports kid who is almost as tall as the bat he holds claims that some day he
would be like "Tendulkar". Why not like "Ajit pal signh" or “Dhayan chand"? Answer is very
simple that they don’t know about these heroes. We cannot play here any blame game because
it’s our society who is responsible for this situation.
Cricket in India is becoming an obstacle in the progress of other sports. Television, com
mercialization and the advertising world have promoted cricket to an extent that it has become a
Mount Everest, which is badly affecting other sports in the country. An equal exposure is not
given to all sports in the country. New comers in cricket sport get name & fame in a short span.
But its not happen with other sports players.

6. Many budding players in sports like shooting, lifting, hockey etc. cannot continue their passion
due to lack of governmental aid provided to them at International level which is not the case with
cricket. Scarcity of stadiums, playgrounds and poor sports system in schools colleges also pull
down interest of people in other sports.
Huge crowd pack the cricket stadium when there is a India-Pakistan match, to boost the morale
of their country but where does this “morale boosting brigade” disappear when sportsmen of
other than cricketers need them.
We do have Sania Mirza, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati bringing laurels to the country in
the field of tennis; a Vishwanathan Anand in the field of chess. In hockey we have great legends
like Balbir singh, Pargat Singh, Surjit Singh, Ashok Kumar, Ajit Pal Singh, who conquered
hockey cup in 1975.They all play hard to bring pride and glory to our country just as cricketers.
It was a time when hockey commentary delivered by commentator Jasdev Singh holds the
breath of nations’ listeners. That sensational wave sound has now vanished from radio sets and
stadiums. Other games like chess, tennis, and hockey are craving for true status as cricket game.
Cricket is not our national game, but it is celebrated as a festival. It has been used as a bridge
between two nations. Our country’s politics also get active with these sports. Players of
international fame and caliber in other sports are not given the proper media support and
attention as well as proper facilities for further development. Media hype and money
involvement in cricket game are the main culprits for cricket ruling the roost, to the detriment of
other sports in India.
Paradoxically our country is still struggling hard to form a good football team. Day by bay
Indian football is losing the little charm it had gained. Recently JCT club has decided to disband
and fold off its team. It was not very shocking news as even Mahindra United decided to
discontinue its football team last year. Same happens with our national game hockey. There was
a time when India did win the Hockey World Cup in 1975 and people showed a keen interest in
the sport, but not so anymore. The sport has died a natural death from lack of leadership and
sponsorship.
If this cricket mania continues, India can never do well in the Olympics for years to come. Hence
there is a great need to reform the administration, infrastructure, training and facilities given to
players of other sports than cricket so that they can shine more brightly with their stunning
performances. Other sports have the full right to move up the pecking order.