Policy Update
Anto Mariya M M
Background
As India is home to the largest youth population in the world, leveraging their potential is crucial for the country’s growth. This demographic dividend must be effectively channelled with adequate opportunities for both personal and professional development. For this reason, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports plays an important role, focusing on personality development, skill enhancement, and capacity-building efforts to empower youth and promote sports in the country.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was initially conceived as a Department of Sports in 1982. Following the year 1985, which was celebrated as the International Year of Youth, the department was renamed the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. It was later elevated to the rank of a Ministry on May 27, 2000. At present, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports operates through two departments – the Department of Youth Affairs and the Department of Sports, since the bifurcation in 2008. The Ministry is currently led by the Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, with Raksha Nikhil Khadse as Minister of State.
Functioning
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been functioning through two key departments – the Department of Youth Affairs and the Department of Sports, under separate secretaries since April 30, 2008. They are supported by three joint secretaries: one in the Department of Youth Affairs and two in the Department of Sports.
The Department of Youth Affairs prioritises personality building of youth and their involvement in nation-building activities. Young people between the ages of 15 and 29 are vital human resources and are critical for the nation’s progress. Utilising the potential of this demographic falls under the task of the Department of Youth Affairs, as 40% of India’s population is aged 15 – 29 years.
The Department of Sports is primarily responsible for sports promotion in the country, improving the sports infrastructure and facilities, as well as capacity-building in athletes. It aspires to make India a top sporting nation and strives for success in both national and international sporting events.
Schemes and Initiatives
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has undertaken various schemes and programmes through its two departments for youth development and sports promotion. The Union government’s allocation of Rs. 3794 crores to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the Budget for the financial year 2025–26 showcases the increasing focus on the sector.
The Department of Youth Affairs provides the following schemes and initiatives for youth empowerment, engaging the youth population in skill development, leadership and nation-building activities.
1. Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK)
It is an umbrella scheme that includes the following sub-schemes and components:
- Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)
- National Youth Corps
- National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD)
- International Cooperation
- Youth Hostels
- Assistance to Scouting and Guiding Organisations
- National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP)
NYKS empowers rural youth with activities in education, health, environment conservation, women’s empowerment, and disaster relief. NPYAD provides financial assistance to government/non-government organisations for youth development. Youth hostels help youth experience India’s rich heritage. International cooperation with UN agencies on youth-related issues and through exchange programmes. NYLP develops leadership qualities among youth. Thus, Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram has varied schemes that include youth in nation-building.
2. National Service Scheme (NSS)
NSS develops the personality and character of student youth through voluntary community service.
3. Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD)
RGNIYD is located in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, and acts as a think-tank of the Ministry. It offers academic and research programmes as well as training and capacity-building programmes.
The Department of Sports has rolled out schemes and initiatives to support sportspersons at every stage of their career, including identifying talent, providing training, helping with funding, improving sports facilities, and even taking care of life after sports.
- Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports
- Assistance to National Sports Federations
- National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
- Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training (RESET) Programme
- Sports and Games for the Disabled
The schemes by the Sports Department are aimed at making India a global sporting powerhouse. Khelo India focuses on the grassroots level with talent identification and development. While financial assistance is given to NSFs to improve training and conduct different sporting events, NSDF mobilise funding for infrastructure and athlete support through both the public and private sectors. The RESET programme set for retired sports persons fills gaps in human resources. Initiatives for disabled sports persons make sports in India more inclusive.
Impact
Impact on Youth Affairs:
- Youth Skilling & Employment Support: Under the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, 28,275 youth were trained in vocational skills. Career counselling was conducted for job opportunities.
- Community Engagement: Through Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram, 4.04 lakh volunteers were mobilised for community development. 1,942 volunteers trained in disaster risk reduction with NDRF.
- Environmental Conservation: The Ministry has conducted 596 Swachhata Abhiyan drives with 4.12 lakh youth volunteers. 1.55 crore kg of waste collected across 1.68 lakh villages under Clean India 2.0. In a special program undertaken to clean beaches across the country, 700 beaches and seashore areas were cleaned with the participation of 6,22,469 MYBharat volunteers.
Impact on Sports:
- Increased Sports Infrastructure: Under the Khelo India scheme, sports infrastructure has been upgraded with the establishment of 1041 Khelo India Centres for athlete training and 301 sports academies accredited for quality training.
- Improved Support and Performance: As of 2024, Khelo India identified 2781 athletes and provided coaching, equipment, and medical care. Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) have set 5939 national records and 1424 international records.
- Talent Identification and Development: KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification), launched in 2024, identified special talents at the grassroots level, and modern ICT tools and global best practices are being adopted in this regard.
- Inclusivity: Promoting inclusive and participative sports for women and marginalised sections in the country. The Khelo India scheme has a sub-component of “Sports for women” to encourage women’s participation. As a result, the Khelo India Women’s leagues was organised with 23,963 participants in 14 sports. In promoting sports among Persons with disabilities, the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), the All India Sports Council for Deaf (AISCD) and Special Olympic Bharat (SOB) receive financial assistance. It is evident in India’s historic medal tally of 29 in the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Challenges
While the Ministry’s schemes have yielded remarkable results, various challenges and issues lie in the face of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
- Lack of Transparency
A great concern in the sports sector is internal governance issues in sports federations. The Wrestling Federation of India issue is a suitable example. This lack of transparency affects the players’ performance as well as the national image. - Administrative Bottlenecks
As sports is a subject in the state list, state politics often intervene in sports development and infrastructure construction. The extent and reach of skill development and capacity-building programmes for youth also depend on administrative efficiency. - Facilitator Role
The Department of Youth Affairs acts as a mere facilitator, as most of the significant issues facing the youth, like employment, education, health and family welfare, are dealt with by other ministries/departments. - Unethical Practices
In the sporting world, doping, age fraud, and match-fixing affect the integrity of sports. Regulating such unethical practices appears to be a challenging task for the Department of Sports.
Way Forward
The Ministry of Youth Affairs is stewarding the promotion of sports culture and youth empowerment in the country through the functioning of its two departments. Both departments have rolled out schemes and support programmes for athletes’ careers and the youth’s role in community development.
While some have yielded success, recognising the role of the young demographic in nation-building, a lot more must be done. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports must strengthen its functioning. In youth empowerment, demand-driven skills and digital literacy must be inculcated. Stricter enforcement of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, is called for. The responsibilities of National Sports Federations (NSFs) must be clearly defined, and safeguards against any misuse are essential for India to become a leading sporting nation.
References
About the Contributor: Anto Mariya M M is currently pursuing her postgraduate degree in Political Science at Madras Christian College. She is a research intern at IMPRI.
Acknowledgement: The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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