The ‘Khelo Bharat Niti’ As a Beacon for Indian Football
July 7, 2025

Context

  • In recent years, India has witnessed a transformative shift in its sports landscape.
  • With an ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympics and a renewed national commitment to sports development, the country is laying the foundation for becoming a global sporting powerhouse.
  • Central to this transformation is the newly launched Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, a landmark national sports policy.
  • This policy seeks to integrate sports into India’s developmental journey — from grassroots to global stages — with a special focus on football, diaspora talent, and alignment with the education system.
  • This article explores the key features, strategic priorities, and implementation frameworks that are shaping India’s sporting future.

Khelo Bharat Niti 2025: A Landmark in India’s Sports Policy

  • The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025, is a significant policy step aimed at positioning sports as a key pillar in India's development.
  • Five-Pillar Approach to Football Development
    • The policy outlines a comprehensive framework for football through five strategic pillars:
      • Sports Excellence: Enhancing the global standing of India’s national football team.
      • Sports for Social Development: Promoting inclusion and development through football.
      • Sports for Economic Growth: Leveraging football to generate events, jobs, and industry growth.
      • Sports as a People’s Movement: Strengthening community participation.
      • Sports in Education: Integrating football into school curricula.
  • Tapping the Indian Diaspora for Talent
    • The policy also emphasizes utilizing football talent from the Indian diaspora, a move actively pursued by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
  • Continued Collaboration for National Team Growth
    • The AIFF, in coordination with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the government, will continue efforts to boost the national team’s performance, aligning with the policy’s goals.

OCI Talent and Indian Football: Navigating Opportunity and Law

  • There has been growing public support for allowing Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) to play for the national team.
  • This has been inspired by practices in countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, and several European and Middle Eastern nations that utilize naturalised or dual-citizen players.
  • FIFA Eligibility vs. Indian Law
    • FIFA requires a player to hold a valid passport of the country they represent.
    • However, OCI cards do not equate to Indian passports, and India currently does not permit dual citizenship, posing a legal challenge.
    • Despite the legal limitations, the Indian government and football authorities are now exploring ways—within the framework of FIFA rules and Indian citizenship law—to harness the potential of diaspora talent.
  • A New Policy Direction
    • The inclusion of this issue in the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 signals a positive intent, offering hope for structured progress toward integrating OCI talent into the national team.

Integrating Football and Education: A Grassroots Revolution

  • Structured Pathway from U8 to Professional Level
    • The AIFF has developed a clear progression model for young footballers, beginning at age 8 and continuing through U10, U13 competitions, U17-U18 high-performance training, and U18-U20 professional transition.
  • Crucial Role of Schools and NEP Alignment
    • Schools play a foundational role in this development pipeline.
    • The alignment of the National Education Policy (NEP) with the National Sports Policy—supported by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—has enabled this structured growth.
  • Football for Schools (F4S) Programme Success
    • Through FIFA’s F4S initiative, over 1.53 lakh schools are now part of the football ecosystem, with 9.26 lakh footballs distributed, ensuring accessibility from the U8 level.
  • Vision for the Future: Transparency and Inclusivity
    • The integration of sports and education policies is expected to usher in a new era of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in Indian sports development.

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