New Delhi, August 15, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday underlined sports as a vital pillar of India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation, announcing that the new National Sports Policy (NSP) will drive growth from schools to the Olympics.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi said India had moved beyond a time when sports was dismissed as a distraction. “Sports is an essential aspect of development… Parents once scoffed at children playing, now they take pride in it. This is a good omen for India’s future,” he said, as Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and other guests applauded.
The NSP, cleared by the cabinet on July 1, aims to strengthen accountability in sports administration and ensure fair play. It proposes new national agencies, inter-ministerial committees, and innovative funding models like “Adopt an Athlete”, “Adopt a District”, and “One Corporate-One Sport” to bolster resources. Modi stressed that the policy would develop an ecosystem covering coaching, fitness, and infrastructure across the country.
Following the NSP rollout, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya secured the passage of the National Sports Governance Bill, setting stricter rules for federations and introducing a formal dispute resolution mechanism.
Highlighting India’s modest Olympic record—seven medals, including one gold, at Tokyo 2021 being its best so far—the Prime Minister said the country needs systemic reforms to reach global standards. He also linked sporting culture with health, warning of rising obesity levels. “Every third person is expected to be obese in the future. To win this war on obesity, we must cut down oil consumption,” he said.
PM Modi Unveils Vision for Sports as Key to India’s Development in Independence Day Address
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