sports culture in india essay

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Sports in India Essay | Essay on Sports in India for Students and Children in English

Sports in India Essay: Over the past few decades, with active involvement in major global decisions and events, India has left significant footprint in every arena. On the threshold of achieving the mantle of global leadership, Indian success story is scripted in diverse fields of political debates, economy, social ventures, entrepreneurship, art and culture. However, the domain of sports continues to experience drought of significant Indian presence. The nation of over 1.2bn continues to grapple with ideas to build a sporting culture.

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Long and Short Essays on Sports in India for Students and Kids in English

A Long essay on the topic of Laughter is the Best Medicine is provided; it is of 450-500 words. A short composition of 100-150 words is also given below. The extended articles are popular among students of classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. On the other hand, students in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 can refer to short essays.

Long Essay on Sports in India 150 Words in English

Long Essay on Sports in India is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Sports in Indian society have always been viewed as a leisure activity, which is given the “leftover” time, after tending to “more significant” activities. From time immemorial, kings and princes indulged in sports like hunting or chariot racing for the purpose of amusement. Though the global notions about sports underwent a change, the Indian mindset has refused to bring out and expand the place of sports in our society.

Over the past decades, with every passing global sporting event like the Olympics or the Asiads, our attention shifts to the depressing state if Indian sports. This attention span is minimal. As a society, we return to our works for sustenance and in training the upcoming generation to earn their daily bread. For the nation, we expect medals in global events but shirk away from preparing our child to be that medal winner.

The presence or absence of sporting culture in any society is a reflection of several other factors operating simultaneously in the social milieu. India, with huge population as a resource is gifted with a large pool of human resource to draw out talent for different sports. Towns and villages abound with youngsters, whose natural inclination towards sports, can be molded into global sporting personalities.

Dhanraj Pillai, Deepika Kumari, Vijender Singh, Sushil Kumar all represent the twinkle eyed youngster from small towns with big aspirations to shine with their talent, when presented with any opportunity. But the names are few enough to be counted on fingertips. A sporting culture would require proliferation of such opportunities, through government and corporate endeavors, to nooks and corners of the nation.

As a developing nation with huge population and debilitating unemployment, “career development” is a major cause of worry for the youth and their parents. The mindset which is rigidly cast in our society expects students to devote themselves unconditionally to books till they emerge out with decent jobs. Studies are considered the sole path to land up a decent job to earn livelihood and raise a family. This route has attained social sanction and any deviation from this standard finds awkward stares, rebukes and obstructions to overcome. For a sporting culture to develop, sports must be viewed as a viable career option in the Indian society.

Parents fail to recognize sports as career option in India. They understood the limited nature of opportunities for the sportsmen at the recognized national level. Only a handful, from amongst a million aspirants, due to several reasons, get to represent the Indian national side in any sport. The remaining becomes part of the crowd, jostling for space to shine at the pinnacle. Any position below the top goes unrecognized and remains non-lucrative to be perused as a career option in sport. But as a society don’t we fail to recognize the same situation in other disciplines as well. We are ready to push our children to become mediocre or sub-standard engineers, doctors, lawyers, CAs but not as a sportsman. This reflects upon the challenge in building India into a sporting nation.

Sporting culture will begin to take shape only when an assured career progression system can be charted out for every sport. This will induce confidence in parents to permit their child to follow his sporting passion as a decent earning assurance at every step even below the nationals could be visualized. Another impediment in the way of building sporting culture is the lack of quality and affordable coaching available for youngsters to pursue their dreams. Most schools fail to provide for a specialized coach for every sport as that will add to the school fees.

As sport is not considered as an integrated part of education, this expenditure is viewed as an avoidable burden by the school authorities. They end up hiring a generalist trainer who fails to spot talent for a particular sport and groom the child accordingly. Also, the infrastructure in most schools is found wanting to promote most of the sports. The private coaching centres have recently found space in certain cities. However, the high cost charged by them deters the talented youth from lower and middle class from joining these centres.

The performances in sports at school and college level fail to attract appreciation and recognition. The student is judged only by his ability to obtain marks in academics, which adds to the peer pressure of an aspiring sportsman. He is expected to perform in academics for the social acceptance and additionally find, time and energy to shine in the sports coaching academies, simply to justify his interest and ability. This dual expectation burden has nipped several budding sporting talents at the very onset of their careers.

Lack of transparency at various selection levels has also been afflicting the Indian sports. Sincere hard working youth often fail to make the cut in the trials where several unethical practices seem to dominate. Lack of fairness at trials is a big setback to the honest efforts of any sportsman. Feeling of dejection is compounded by the future related uncertainties and social mockery of his abilities.

Absence of a healthy and dependable social security system adds to the resistance in pursuing sports as a career. Any major injury or lack of selector’s favourable nod can prolong the period of struggle, characterized by uncertain and meager income source. The healthy social security system of networked schools and health care abroad recognize and support players of the zonal and club levels to the fullest. This state provided assurance promotes a confidence in the society to create space for a sporting culture to proliferate. The role of administrative bodies also comes under scanner when deliberating upon development of sporting culture.

Most of these bodies have become granaries of inefficiency and malfunctioning. Often run as fiefdoms, they prevent the transparent and accountable face of sports to emerge in Indian society. Active role of these administrative bodies with a wider involvement of senior players in decision making can give impetus to sporting culture in India. The proposal to get these bodies under the scanner of RTI is a progressive step to drive away the darkness of inefficiency and unaccountability enveloping these bodies.

With every passing Olympics, we blankly stare at spirit and stamina of global athletes competing for laurel. While US, China and European nations race ahead with medals, our levels of disappointment increase with each passing day. We feel elated even to come on board the medals tally by some spirited efforts. This picture demands a makeover. A makeover which should catapult India onto the sporting map of the world and this demands a collective effort by several stakeholders. The packed stadium euphoria of cricket needs to be replicated in other sports by a determined focus and planned approach.

For any culture to germinate and flourish, the seeds have to be healthy and rich. The recent performances at the Asiads, the Common Wealth Games and other global events portends that the embryo needs to be molded with an eye at the future. China managed to bring about such a flourishing sporting culture in about two decades. The opportune moment in Indian sporting history is now and needs to be grasped with both hands to develop the culture over the next few decades.

Schools are the nurseries of spotting and grooming sporting talent to bring about a makeover to Indian outlook for sports. Marks for sports performances can be an innovative step to create space for more sporting activities. Diversification of sporting activities, by providing sports other than cricket a chance must be taken up in right earnest. Higher frequency of inter and intra school sports meet will generate a competitive spirit amongst the students to shine for their units. Preparation for these meets will ensure focused time and energy spent to bring out the best of the student in the sport of his liking.

The culture of pushing all school kids to play cricket or football in their sports period must change. A focused and scientific approach to identify the sport specific talents and their grooming over a period of time will pay rich dividends over time. Free passes for students to attend sporting events in their cities will have a strong effect in imbibing sporting spirit by students. Schools can arrange interactions of students’with performing sports icons of the city to motivate and inspire youth to take to sports.

Every segment of the society must collectively take the responsibility of building the sporting culture. State must ensure that sporting facilities reach to the grassroots through schools and colleges in rural areas. Games like volleyball and handball which require minimal infrastructural support can be taken up on priority basis. Regular recruitment of coaches for schools and colleges must be emphasized and ensured. It is imminent to spread the opportunities to every part of the nation to tap the talent.

Corporate houses can contribute strongly to this cause by sponsoring of mega events. They can aid in causing awareness by publicizing events. Training academies set by MRF and Tata have been doing a yeoman service to the nation by grooming talented and providing them a platform to knock on doors of national selectors. Many products of these academies have shone brightly for the nation at different stages. Certain costly sports need active subsidized coaching either by state or the corporate. Tennis, squash, badminton or shooting have been inaccessible to common masses due to lack of adequate and affordable centre to learn the game. This arena demands active focus by government and corporate.

The state government can establish hunt teams to collaborate with district administration to hunt for hidden talent in obscure areas. Swimming talent from ponds of villages and archery from tribes of forest must be tapped by this team through coordination between school authorities, coaches and district administration. Such selected youth must be groomed in sports academies, with lodging and food to develop an Olympian for the nation.

Media and sporting icons have a critical role in building a sporting culture in India. The omnipresent media must highlight the apathy of sports bodies and raise awareness about the need for more systematized career progression in sports. It must play an active role through debates and discussions to attack the mindsets of people and sell sports as a career option.

Cricket caught the imagination of the nation by the active role of 1983 World Cup winning team and the continued stature given to cricketers by media. Cricket should not be viewed as an adversary of the sports in India. Rather lessons can be taken for the popularity of cricket to transform the cricketing culture into sporting culture. There is enough space for other sports to grow and flourish in India along with cricket.

Public memory has a very short span, especially with sports in India because as a nation we are not overly involved with sports. In such scenario, media plays a force multiplier by repeatedly flashing past performances, by interviewing famous cricketers or by holding cricket related debates and discussions. This keeps the cricketers fresh in every one’s memoiy along with the overdose of cricket matches and their “live” coverage. Such planned marketing is supported by frequent successes in cricket which has generated role models like Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar. With this backdrop and the recent successes of Saina Nehwal, Sushil Kumar, Gagan Narang, Mary Kom media must build up campaign to disseminate a ,sporting culture.

More companies should approach these stars for advertisement, campaigns so that their “presence” can be felt by society, promoting any upcoming event through adcampaigns and hoardings and by infusing money in these sports by corporate backing can bring a different scenario altogether. The ripple effect of Vijender Singh’s success transformed Bhiwani into a boxing hub. We need more such hubs for athletics, swimming, basketball, hockey and football to emerge in the nation.

Saina and Gopichand’s success turned attention towards badminton while Leander and Mahesh are looked up to in lawn tennis. The success story of these icons demands continued coverage by media along with their upcoming events, to create space for these sports. These performances must be tracked and details brought to public to allow them to have a look and encourage their child to follow these footprints.

Sports in India need a renewed focus. It is time it moves away from the last pages of newspaper, last period of schools, and last priority of parents for their child’s careers and domains of last benchers of schools and colleges. It is time that sporting authorities get a revamp by inclusion of more experienced players in decision making so that they understand requirement of players threadbare. It is time we understand that thrill and pride on hearing the national anthem played when Abhinav Bindra won the gold for India requires sustained efforts, hard work and support from parents. His case was of individuals fight despite the resistance of the system. Imagine how many more Bindras India can produce if the system is supportive, procedures conducive and mindset favourable for a sporting culture to flourish.

Globalization of Terror

The images of collapsing trade, towards are etched crystal clear in our memories. Explosions in Madrid and London were heard the world over – repeatedly in the comforts of living rooms. Closer home, serial blasts in Mumbai Malegaon or recent atrocities in Hyderabad were all carried, presented and vividly dissected in scrutiny for our consumption. Connectivity, we defend, is an asset a necessity in the modern era. The world is shrinking and the global hub has gifted numerous opportunities and advantages to en cash. But in this rush to capitalize on the fruits of globalization, have we missed its impact on a hostile framework? The role of globalization, both as a cause and vehicle of perpetration of violence is increasingly being realized.

Short Essay on Sports in India 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Sports in India is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Globalization has revolutionized each and every aspect of our society, touching us at myriad levels in numerous ways. From the times, we decided to jumps on and integrate with global forces by adopting the new economic policy, the pace of changes has only taken a unidirectional approach. Easing of restrictions on trade barriers and tariffs, introduced an era of competition and quality in the Indian markets. Consumerism has become the order of the day. Nations began to pour in their strengths to capture markets elsewhere. However, the growth story missed the vision from another segment. This market led approach bled the farmers, the weaker and the marginalized sections of our society. Though the fruits of growth percolated to these sections, inequity grew at a rapid pace, creating pockets of grudges, neglect and marginalization.

Globalization brought along an era of instant entertainment through satellite television, ignorant of the sensitivity of the population. Though the barriers of culture and religion were being broken down to build a world of understanding, the process accentuated alienation of certain segments of the society, by sheer

Sports in India Essay

Introduction.

When the Cricket World Cup is broadcasted on television, there would be millions of eyes eagerly watching it and praying for India to win. Likewise, we host and participate in many sports and games, wherein some of which we shine, and in others, we face defeat. Nevertheless, sports have been an essential part of our lives and this sports in India essay will discuss the issues centring it.

Even though India places great importance on the field of sports, we do not see much progress in the area. We have many gifted batters, hockey players, shooters and athletes, and yet we fail to bring in gold medals or cups during tournaments. The essay on sports in India will throw light on this aspect. As children will become aware of different sports and games through this sports in India essay in English, they can also write about my favourite game .

Importance of Sports in India

In this sports in India essay, we will see how sports build a feeling of nationalism and togetherness in people. Since ancient times, sports have had a special place in Indian culture and history. Earlier, cricket and polo were considered a sport of royalty, and they played them for entertainment and physical fitness.

While India followed the popularity of Cricket, Football and Hockey, it also gave equal importance to indigenous games like Kabaddi , Kho-Kho, martial arts etc. Whenever a national or international tournament is held, people watch in awe and listen eagerly to whether we have won it. In such instances, we see that all of them come together to cheer for our team. The essay on sports in India also emphasises how sports have inspired the youth to engage in physical activities and taught them essential values like teamwork , discipline, and sportsmanship.

Sports in India

Although we have reached the international level, it is disturbing to note that we have not been able to make a significant impact on the field. We will analyse the reasons behind this in the sports in India essay in English. Our country has an abundance of talented athletes and sportspeople, but we do not have sufficient financial resources to train and support them. Most of them do not see the victory stand due to a lack of proper infrastructure or advanced training facilities.

Besides, sports have been largely affected by political intervention as athletes and players are chosen based on influence rather than their skill, because of which the talented players from villages are often neglected. The sports in India essay explains that if we give ample facilities to them and encourage them to participate in sports competitions, we can bring them to the forefront of sports and thus improve the condition of sports in India.

Frequently Asked Questions on Sports in India Essay

Can you name some of india’s notable sports icons.

In every sport, there is at least one notable personality. We have the chess champion, Viswanathan Anand, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, and tennis icon Mahesh Bhupathi.

Should we encourage children to take up sports?

Parents often think that sports are not an ideal career option for children. But we must encourage them to participate by supporting and playing and watching their favourite sport with them, as the sports activities can help in the overall development of their mind and body.

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From Ancient Roots to Modern Glory: India’s Sports Story

by admin | Oct 16, 2023 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

India’s performance at the recently concluded Asian Games was a shining example of a sleeping giant slowly awakening. A nation of a billion people that often struggled in sports in the past, woke up to an inspiring medal tally of the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. Our athletes scripted history by winning an astounding 107 medals, marking it the highest medal tally in our nation’s sporting history. What was more astounding was that these laurels were from a multitude of sports, including athletics, wrestling, shooting, badminton, and boxing. As India continues to invest in the development of its athletes and sporting infrastructure, it’s not a question of “if” but “when” the nation will make a mark on the global stage. 

History of Indian Sports:

India, a land rich in history, tradition, and culture, has always been a hub for activity in many aspects. The sports history of India dates back to the 4th Century BCE when traditional sports such as Kho-Kho and Kabaddi originated. Dholavira, the world’s oldest terraced arena, was built in Kutch, Gujarat, around 3000 BC, evidencing the existence of sports in India. Ancient texts like the Mahabharata, written around the 3rd century BCE, mention martial arts and archery as activities that were carried out during that era. Even indoor games like Chess and Snakes & Ladders have origins in ancient India, in the form of games of Chaturanga and Gyan Chauper, respectively.

Colonial Influence:

The arrival of colonists on Indian shores brought a significant shift in the sporting culture. The British, with their love for organised sporting events, established the first cricket club in India in 1792 and greatly propagated the sport in the country.

While the gentleman’s game took centre stage, other sports like football, tennis, and golf began to find their footing. The establishment of the Calcutta Football Club in 1872 marked the beginning of organized football in India. The British influence was evident in the rules and structure of these sports, and Indian athletes were gradually drawn into these global competitions. The British also took many indigenous games and made adaptations of their own to form brand-new sports, with badminton being a prime example.

Emergence of Indigenous Sports:

As Indians adopted British sports, they also preserved their own rich sporting heritage. Kushti, or traditional Indian wrestling, continued to thrive and found its place in the Olympics. Kabaddi, a contact sport that requires agility and strength, became popular in villages across the country. These indigenous sports, with deep-rooted traditions, represented the true spirit of India’s sporting identity.

Cricket Takes Center Stage:

While other sports continued to prosper, cricket remained the heartbeat of India’s sporting landscape. The 1983 Cricket World Cup win under Kapil Dev was a historic moment. This victory not only solidified cricket’s position but also ignited a cricketing revolution across the nation. The Indian Premier League, launched in the late 2000s, further redefined cricket and made it a global phenomenon. India became a cricketing powerhouse, and that remains true to this date.

India at the Olympics:

While India hasn’t been a powerhouse at the Olympics, there have been some truly remarkable moments on the grandest sporting stage that has started a revolution in the country. Our nation has had a total of 35 medals at the Olympics, divided among various disciplines including badminton, boxing, wrestling, and shooting. India had a glorious run in the initial Olympic games in the sport of field hockey. Athletes like Dhyan Chand and his legendary prowess in field hockey inspired the nation as in 1936, India clinched its first Olympic gold medal, marking the beginning of an era of dominance in the sport. This was followed by a golden hat-trick at the next three Olympics in 1948, 1952, and 1956.

Except for hockey, India struggled to find any medals for the rest of the century, only managing to obtain one individual medal (KD Jadav’s bronze in wrestling) until the end of the 20th century. Things started changing as we entered the 21st century. The 2008 Beijing Olympics was a historic event, as India clinched its first individual gold medal when Abhinav Bindra engraved his name in history in shooting. It was also the first time in over half a century that we managed to clinch multiple medals in the same Olympics.

His triumph marked a new era for Indian sports and provided a ray of hope for aspiring athletes. The stage was set for now as the upcoming Olympics would see India win multiple medals, and the athletes who brought us glory would become household names. Today, India’s newfound love for the Javelin throw is facilitated by Neeraj Chopra, who won gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, writing another remarkable chapter in our sporting history.

Rise of Badminton:

In the 1970s, a young shuttler started making waves in the badminton world. Winning medals and challenging world-beaters was India’s father of badminton, Prakash Padukone. He brought badminton to the forefront in India, winning coveted medals like the All England Championships and Commonwealth Games. This led to the sport being picked up by youngsters, giving rise to several other badminton stars like Syed Modi, Pullela Gopichand, and U Vimal Kumar.

As years passed, badminton strengthened even more, and finally, in 2012, we got our first Olympic medal as Saina Nehwal won the Bronze. The medal streak continued in the next two Olympics, with PV Sindhu clinching Silver and Bronze respectively on both occasions.

India recently celebrated another massive breakthrough as the Indian pair Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty achieved the World No. 1 ranking, becoming the first Indian pair to do so in badminton history. Satwik and Chirag have been a force to be reckoned with in the past couple of years, winning title after title. Not just in doubles, even the singles badminton shuttlers have also been on the rise. H S Pronnoy and Lakshya Sen are currently in the top 15 rankings in the world and have been title contenders in all the major tournaments in the past couple of years. This era is what many have been calling the golden age of Indian badminton, but our shuttlers are not done yet, and the world has yet to see the heights Indian badminton has to reach.

Athletics on Blistering Speed:

One of the great catalysts for India’s record-breaking Asian Games stint was its performance in Athletics. India garnered a total of 29 medals in the sport, out of the total of 107, making up almost 27% of the medals. Athletics has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and a majority of the credit goes to the athletes who have been performing exceptionally well on the world stage in events like the Commonwealth Games and the Diamond League.

Para Athletes Shining:

In recent years, India has also seen a surge in the achievements of para-athletes. These remarkable athletes have not only overcome physical challenges but have also made the country proud on the global stage. Para shuttlers Pramod Bhagat, Sukant Kadam, and Krishna Nagar have been smashing it in the badminton world. Devendra Jhajharia, the para javelin throw athlete, has a remarkable two golds and a silver Paralympic medal in his collection. These are only a few examples, likewise, there are many more who with their dedication and excellence serve as an inspiration to all. The success of para-athletes further enriches India’s sporting legacy.

Conclusion:

The history of sports in India is a remarkable journey, from rich traditions to colonial influences, and post-independence glories. It’s a story of resilience, passion, and an unyielding spirit of competition. From ancient times to the modern era, Indian athletes have always managed to rise above challenges and make their nation proud on a global stage.

As we look ahead, there is no doubt that India’s sporting landscape will continue to evolve. With more players investing in sports, volunteering to put up infrastructure projects and donating to support athletes, the nation is poised to make its mark in even more diverse disciplines. As a land of over a billion dreams, India’s sporting history is far from being written in full, the future promises new stories, new champions, and new heights for sports in India, we just have to wait and watch.

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Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India

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Reaching as far back as ancient times, Ronojoy Sen pairs a novel history of India’s engagement with sport and a probing analysis of its cultural and political development under monarchy and colonialism, and as an independent nation. Some sports that originated in India have fallen out of favor, while others, such as cricket, have been adopted and made wholly India’s own. Sen’s innovative project casts sport less as a natural expression of human competition than as an instructive practice reflecting a unique play with power, morality, aesthetics, identity, and money. Sen follows the transformation of sport from an elite, kingly pastime to a national obsession tied to colonialism, nationalism, and free market liberalization. He pays special attention to two modern phenomena: the dominance of cricket in the Indian consciousness and the chronic failure of a billion-strong nation to compete successfully in international sporting competitions, such as the Olympics. Innovatively incorporating examples from popular media and other unconventional sources, Sen not only captures the political nature of sport in India but also reveals the patterns of patronage, clientage, and institutionalization that have bound this diverse nation together for centuries.

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Essay on Sports Culture in India: Why India lagging in Sports Culture

Essay on sports culture in india.

Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called on the youth to consider a career in sports. He encouraged the youths of the country to foster a sports culture in the country.

Despite sport being an integral part of human personality development and entertainment, India has very little to show as achievement in international sports. Till now India has had a very few big names in international sports except in some sports like cricket and wrestling.

India in recent sport events 

India’s medal tally in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Para-Olympic are 7 and 19 with 48th and 22nd Rank respectively which is the most decorated Olympic Games in Indian history. India ranks second in list of most populated countries of the world but when we talk about metals in Olympics it won only a total of 35 medals since 1900 to Tokyo Olympics 2020 . Though India has a large youth population but there is a poor performance in the Olympics and other International games.

In the recent Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 , India secured 4th rank with a total of 61 medals. When more than 50 percent of India’s population is below the age of 30 years, a little more efforts and encouragement can bring more laurels in India’s bag.

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Why India lagging in Sports Culture

There are various reasons behind India’s poor sport culture some of them are as under:

• Lack of Sport Infrastructure and World level Training & funds
• Lack of Sport Sprit, Social support and encouragement  
• Indian society don’t consider sports as career options  
• Poor competitive environment for the Sports 
• Lack of encouragement for sports on the elementary school level

Lack of Sports infrastructure & World level Training & funds

In India there is poor infrastructure for sports which is a big hindrance in progress sports. For example; Swimming players need a swimming pool but there are very few world-level swimming pools where players can practice swimming. India spends less than one percent of its GDP on sports. Due to shortage of funds, there is a constant struggle to get sports equipment, medical support, and other types of financial support. Also there is a poor sport system to develop sport skill. Lack of world-level trainers and coaches are other important reason behind India’s lagging in sports. For example, Neeraj Chopra’s Coach is a foreign Citizen, no other javelin player can get the same facilities as they are not famous yet.

Also Read: Essay on Asia Cup 2022

Lack of Sports Spirit, Social support, encouragement

Except some games like cricket there is hardly any social support for other sports like archery, swimming, discus throw, weight lifting, kabaddi, etc. On the State level or even on the National level players and games hardly have an audience. Players of most games do not get the audience that they deserve. Audience and recognition boost the morale of players, a sport person who feels appreciated will always do more than expected.

Indian society doesn’t consider sports as career options

We all are familiar with the saying that “Padhoge Likhoge Banoge Nawab, Kheloge Khudoge Banoge Kharab”  means to lead a good life study is important but Playing Games is just an entertainment and consider as a leisure activity. The harsh reality is not different from the above-mentioned quote: many national-level players are struggling to meet both ends and accepting some not-so-glorified jobs. Except for athletes who excel at the national or International level and become famous, others leave sports early due to the absence of career opportunities.

Also Read: Essay on Commonwealth Games 2022

Lack of encouragement for sports at the elementary school level

Haryana is Called the sports capital of India because Haryana has an established culture of sport on Grass root level. But in other states, sports and physical education are seen as extracurricular activity. Children are encouraged to devote the majority of their time on studies and sports are treated as an activity not to be taken seriously.

The poor competitive environment for the Sports

Poor Bench strength development for competitiveness, we know we have very few names in most of the sports except cricket. There is no player whom one considers a role model and this culture develops Poor Bench strength development for competitiveness.

Also Read: Download 50 PDF Essays for All Exams: Click Here  

Initiative of Government to Promote Sports Culture

Government of India is constantly working to increase the Sports spirit and Culture in India. The Ministry of Sports in Sep 2014 launched the Target Olympic Podium Scheme famously known as TOPS to improve India’s Performance in the Paralympic and Olympics. Under the scheme, extra monetary assistance and training from the national and international coaches will be provided to the players. 

The Government has also launched some national Level Sports Competitions like Khelo India Programme which is a national-level event organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI)  every Year. The programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level. For this purpose a strong framework for all sports played in our country has been prepared which aims to establish India as a great sporting nation.

Under the programme, talented players are identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels by the High-Powered Committee. They will also be provided annual financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh per annum for 8 years.

Another Important National level sports Competition organized by Government of India is the National Games of India. In the National Games of India, Athletes from all States of India participate and perform. With time Society is also changing the famous Slogan “Padhoge Likhoge Banoge Nawab, Kheloge Khudoge Banoge Kharab” is now “Khelo Khudogo Banoge Lajavab”.

Also Read: Essay on My Vision for India 2047

Sports Culture: Way Forward

Sports is an integral part of Soft power as political Scientist Joseph Nye Jr Said “Power is an attraction through culture, political ideas, and policies rather than coercion” that military hard power exhibits. So, sports are just not an integral part of human personality development and entertainment but they are more than this. All types of sports deserve State’s and Public’s appreciation, participation, respect, importance, and attention. It’s time we encourage and inspire young talent of the country and give them top-notch infrastructure and training of the highest level to make India a sport super power.

Hope you liked this essay on Sports Culture in India and it helped you in your exam preparation. Keep vision selfstudymantra.com to get more essays on trending topics.

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Sports In India Essay | Essay on Sports In India for Students and Children in English

Sports In India Essay: India is a country with a billion-plus population but in the field of games and sports it is not able to show up even against countries that are as small as one of the country’s states.

At the recently held world cup Hockey at Kuala Lumpur India lost against South Korea and against Malaysia — South Korea, a country of the pocket size. In Cricket, the Indian performance remains so uncertain it may defeat the best and lose to the worst, and then it is argued that cricket is a game of chance. Though, of course, we have the world top class among our players — Sachin Tendulkar to name one in cricket or Vishwanath Anand in chess, but then names are so few to be counted. The World Olympics come and go and India hardly can take any pride in its performance in any item getting a bronze here or silver there is the only achievement for this vast country.

Long Essay on Sports In India 500 Words in English

Short essay on sports in india 300 words in english, 10 lines on sports in india.

• What is the most popular sport in India?
• Does India have a national sport and what is it?
• What are popular sports played in India?

Long and Short Essays on Sports In India Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Sports In India’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on the Sports In India of 400-500 words. This long essay about Sports In India is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Sports In India of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Below we have given a long essay on Sports In India of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9, and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

There was a time when India had wizards in the field of Hockey — Dhyan Chand and Roop Singh, the two brothers but that was so long time back. Then the world had not caught up with the game and Hockey was treated as India’s national game. Gradually countries after countries have picked up the game, developed their own new techniques, and are displaying a marvelous achievement.

So what actually is wrong with our sports and games.

During the British rule sports and games in India were just a mere source of entertainment for the rich. The credit for promoting sports and games, then, went to the Maharajas and the Princely States. Maharaja Bhupendra Singh of Patiala adopted cricket, wrestling, and athletics. He donated the Ranji Trophy which continues to be played on the national level with pride. The great wrestler — Gama was maintained and sustained by the Maharaja and became the World Champion of his times — Rustaame Zaman.

Maharaja of Nawanagar — Digvijay Singhji hired British coaches to coach promising cricketers. Maharaja Holkar of Indore patronized players of cricket like C.K. Naidu, Mushtaq Ali, and C.S. Naidu. Maharaja of Manavdar, Bhopal patronized Hockey and so did Maharaja of Gwalior. Maharaja of Cooch Behar encouraged football and instituted the Santosh Trophy for National Championship.

With the dawn of independence and the end of the princely states, though country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, encouraged sports, still no comprehensive sports policy could be formulated. Private sponsorers continue to patronize games like the Indian Air Lines patronizing Hockey, Cricket and Table Tennis while the Telephone industries encourage football. But this does not actually help at the national level. In spite of the Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur Coaching Scheme or the National Institute of Sports at Patiala, nothing much seems to be happening. The BCCI has huge funds and the Cricket players are getting big money but then it is not one sparrow which makes a summer. And even cricket cannot be said to be at the top of the world.

Below we have given a short essay on Sports In India is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

What our country utterly lacks is a national policy on games and sports. The country’s budget comes and goes and no one — no M.P. — no minister, none even among the public raises any voice for any substantial allotment and provision for the promotion of games and sports; while in much smaller countries the upcoming players are properly looked after by the government they are coached, trained and groomed at state expense.

Such a vast country, with such a massive population, is not able to groom up even a proper eleven for a team game or an individual or two for individual games. One knows not how Milkha Singh or P.T. Usha or Malleshwari could succeed in their own events at the international level. Their own personal devotion, effort, and dedication would have been responsible for their achievement.

What is needed is that the government should give a priority to games and sports as a means of national pride. Catch the player or sportsman young, a search should constantly be on to find talents, and once they are discovered all their responsibilities be shouldered by the government they should be mentally free from all burdens.

Intensive and expert coaching, competition, and international exposure be given to these players and athletes the country should consider them their prized possession, and they are physically, financially, mentally be inspired, and helped to win for the nation. That sense of national pride alone can inspire them to achieve the best. If South Korea, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Cuba, Japan, Taiwan can come up with Olympic Champions, it is a shame for India not to be able to do it. It is only the will that is lacking not the talent.

Students can find more English Essay Writing Topics, Ideas, Easy Tips to Write Essay Writing, and many more.

• Sports are good for any nation.
• Various games are played in India. India excelled in few games while failed in other games.
• A billion-plus population, India is not able to produce Olympic Champions it is a shame.
• Once India was at the top of hockey but now even that pride of place has been lost.
• During British rule, the Maharajas and Princes patronized games, and players and world-class players were produced.
• With independence, no regulated and planned sports policy formulated in the country.
• The nation’s annual budget makes no provision for games and sports.
• There are world-class players and sportsmen but they are self-made no state policy has groomed them.
• There should be a national plan and policy to encourage and patronize players and sportsmen catch them young and they be trained, groomed, and totally adopted in every way by the state then only world-class players and sportsmen can be produced.
• Even such small countries like South Korea, Argentina, Cuba, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Japan can produce world-class players and sportsmen — India cannot which means that the ‘Will’ is not there with the state.

FAQs on Sports in India Essay

1.  What is the most popular sport in India?

In India, Cricket is the most popular sport undoubtedly.

2. Does India have a national sport and what is it?

Yes, India has a national sport and hockey is a national sport.

3. What are popular sports played in India?

Some of the Popular Sports Played in India are Cricket, Badminton, Football, Hockey, Kabaddi, Tennis, Boxing, etc.

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Analyse the importance of reviving the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports.

Topic : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

5. Analyse the importance of reviving the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports. (250 words)

Reference: pib.gov.in 

Why the question: The article talks about identifying grass root talent and strengthening sports infrastructure, Sports Minister recently urged states to host annual Khelo India Games to strengthen grassroots-level talent identification. Key Demand of the question: One must present a detailed analysis of the importance of reviving the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports. Directive: Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. Structure of the answer: Introduction: Highlight the present Sports culture in India in brief. Body: Discuss how sports culture in India has evolved from nothing to something where efforts to recognise talent is being made, To make India a sporting superpower, we need to identify talent as young as 5-10 years old and groom them to be future champions. Discuss the efforts of government in this direction, quote the programs such as Khelo India etc. Present the concerns and challenges associated, suggest solutions. Conclusion: Conclude with need and importance of identifying the talent from the grassroots.

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Reinvigorating Sports in Rural Areas

The recent success of India at the Olympics is a commendable achievement – with many firsts added to the kitty. The athletes from rural India remain the heroes of this success. Many of these sports find their roots in the ancient Indian tradition of sports. In recent times, the Government of India and State governments have taken multiple initiatives to groom athletes for professional sports. However, there is a long way before India emerges as a sporting nation in its truest sense. Sports have to be a part of a child's growing up. The National Education Policy 2020 offers a window of opportunity to integrate sports as a non-alienable part of the curriculum in schools and colleges. The network of schools and colleges makes a perfect platform to scale sports to reach each household. The essay argues that with an initiative like One State One Sport, both – scale and future champions can be created.

Introduction:

Tokyo Olympics has been historic for India – an event that will be cherished forever. Many ‘firsts’ were achieved, and medal droughts ended – India bagged its highest ever medals (7), Neeraj Chopra brought India its first athletics gold in men's javelin; India ended a 41-year medal drought in hockey by winning a bronze. While Meera Bai Chanu lifted a billion Indian hopes with a silver medal at the Olympics, she also gave India's first-ever opening day medal at the Olympics.  Ravi Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, and Lovlina Borgohain wrestled and boxed out to win a silver and two bronzes at India's most decorated Olympics. A common thread that binds these athletes – apart from their spirit of excellence and service to the nation – is their rural background. It's a testimony to the fact that rural India has been a powerhouse of extraordinary talent. Rural India is abundant with sports and games which are local and unique in each state. These games and sports have served multiple purposes – keeping people fit, maintaining harmony, channelizing the youth's energy in constructive areas, keeping them away from substance abuse, and pulling the youth out of poverty among many other benefits. The Government of India, in recent years, has taken several initiatives such as Khelo India, TOPS Scheme, etc to build India as a sporting nation with a great amount of emphasis in the rural areas. While these initiatives are commendable, there is a long way to go in creating a bustling sports culture in India – rural and urban both. In this essay, we explore the trajectory of sports in India (with a focus on rural sports and rural India), the intrinsic and extrinsic values of sports, pathbreaking reforms taken by states and the central government, linkages between education and sports in the light of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and suggest few measures to reinvigorate and institutionalize rural sports through policy measures.

Rural Sports in India: Ancient to Modern

Sports have always been a part of the common life in India for ages. There are several pieces of evidence of the existence of vibrant sports activities in India. Our epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are full of incidences of sports such as archery, wrestling, horse-riding, chariot-racing, etc. For instance, wrestling has been a highly popular sport even during the times of Mahabharata. Known as Malla-yuddha, it saw participation from legendary characters such as Bhima, Balram, and Jarasandha – who have been mentioned as the greatest wrestlers in the epic. Today, India is known as a powerhouse in wrestling with several outstanding accolades gained at the international fora – the commonwealth games, the world championships, and the Olympics.

One of the greatest things to have happened in the wrestling world is the evolution and growth of female wrestling. This one development has dismantled the concept of females as the fairer sex --often used to denote the fragility and physical weakness of women --  and challenged the gender role and occupation for women. The young girls and women from rural India have role models --who are like them, come from similar backgrounds, and overcame challenges to succeed. The legend of the Phogat sisters has changed the outlook of patriarchs, many have become champions of gender equality and promote girls in sports. It is no surprise that a new generation of female sports wrestlers like Sakshi Mallik (the first Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics) have come up, performing exceedingly well at the national and international forums. From ancient times till date, wrestling continues to enthrall the youth and has emerged as one of India's strongholds in modern sports times.

It’s a great achievement that many of these sports still survive and thrive in India. Some of the other early rural sports which have withstood the tide of time and continue to attract youth from rural areas have been discussed in the following section.

a. Mallakhamb: The Ultra-Gymnastics  

Mallakhamb is an ancient Indian version of Gymnastics where a gymnast performs aerial yoga and gymnastic posture atop or with a standing pole. The sport is hugely popular in rural pockets of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and requires immense stamina, practice, and discipline to perform. One of the earliest written descriptions of Mallakhamb can be located in the memoirs of the Chinese traveller Huen-Tsang dating seventh century CE. He recognizes Prayagraj as a site where Hindu ascetics used to climb poles as a yogic exercise. He states that Hindu ascetics climbed the top of a pole situated at Prayagraj clinging onto it with one hand and one foot while other hand and foot stretched out in the air and watched the sunset with their heads turned right as it set which indicates a solar rite . In modern times, the sport of Mallakhamb was formally institutionalized in the year 1958 when it was introduced as a sport in the National Gymnastics Championship followed by the first National Mallakhamb Championship in 1962 at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. From there on the sports has grown in its reach and appeal so much so that the State Government of Madhya Pradesh declared Mallakhamb as the State sports in 2013. The Mallakhamb World Championship 2019 held in Mumbai attracted participants from 15 countries such as the USA, England, Germany, France, Japan, Singapore, Italy amongst others. Such is the popularity of Mallakhamb that top performers from India were to perform Mallakhamb at the Tokyo Olympics but couldn't do so because of restricted guidelines; it was performed in the Olympics for the first time in the year 1936.

b. Kalaripayattu: The Ancient Indian Martial Arts

Kalaripayattu, or simply Kalari, is an ancient Indian martial arts form that can be traced back to the Sangam period in southern India. A scientific sport, it requires great mind-body coordination and agility using kicks and swings while attacking and protecting with spears, shields, or swords, etc. It's a martial arts training used to prepare warriors in ancient times. But today it's practiced as a competitive sport and attracts youth mainly from Kerala. It follows a guru-shishya parampara where students (shishya) train under a master (guru) in training centers (called Kalari). Till 1936, the Kalari training continued as an oral instruction (vaytharis), and then it was codified in written form as a book and descriptive writings followed at scale by 1953 leading to the popularisation of the sports. The Kerala Government has established the Kalaripayattu Academy in 2021 which will offer training of Kalari in a formalized way through a dedicated syllabus that has been crafted for the purpose.

c. Qila Raipur Sports Festival: India's Rural Olympics

Qila Raipur Sports Festival, India's Rural Olympics, is an annual sporting event that promotes local rural sports of Punjab through competitions in the district of Ludhiana, Punjab. The brainchild of Inderjeet Singh Grewal, Qila Raipur Sports Festival was first held in 1933 to bring together people and promote harmony through sports. The sports festival brings a right unique mix of professional sports as well as rural sports played for mere pleasure. The athletic events include shot put, hockey, kabaddi, track races. The other games include tug of war, horse races, horse acrobatics, etc. The festival aims at giving a platform for the budding talent in professional games as well as creating a sporting culture in the area. The festival is tied to the culture of the area – folk songs, bhangra, local food -- which are on full display during the event. It acts as a unifying element and keeps people closer to their roots. These instrumental values of sports are intangible and often get lesser recognition in the noise of professional sports.

In addition to the ancient Indian games, modern India has seen the rise of Indian players at the global level in several other professional sports predominantly played in the rural parts of the country – be it kabaddi or hockey, or archery. There are several outstanding initiatives taken by various State Governments and the Government of India to nurture the sporting talent in rural India as discussed further.

Initiatives to Strengthen Sports in Rural Areas: A Pulse Check

The Government of India (GOI) took a historic step by starting a targeted scheme to achieve top results in the Olympics games. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme or TOPS was launched in 2014 under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), GOI to provide financial assistance and other help to athletes in their pursuit of medals in the Olympics and other international sporting events. Sports such as Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Shooting, and Wrestling have been recognized as 'high priority' schemes under the scheme.  

The top-performing athletes are selected by a committee who are then provided customized training with top coaches at modern and well-equipped sports facilities and institutions. The contribution of the TOPS scheme in the medal tally in the international forum has been nothing less than big success. The Rio 2016 Olympics saw TOPs awardees P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik clinching silver and bronze respectively for India. The paralympians covered under TOPS won four medals at Rio including two gold medals. The TOPS scheme’s impact was best to be seen at the 2018 commonwealth games where 47 out of the 70 medals won by India were bagged by TOPS awardee athletes.

The Tokyo Olympics has been the greatest Olympics for India in terms of the medals secured. Believe it or not, all the athletes including the paralympians were covered under the TOPS scheme. In addition to best coaching and equipment, each athlete was provided with INR 50,000 monthly out-of-pocket expenditure which could be spent on their diet or training or any other way the athlete desires. The Government of India went the extra mile to support its contingent of paralympians. Avani Lekhara, the double medalist, was provided with a computerized digital target and an expensive air rifle to practice at home while Bhavina Patel, the silver medalist, was equipped with an Ottobock Wheelchair and a Table Tennis robot called Butterfly- Amicus Prime. No wonder, the 47 members Paralympic contingent converted the opportunity provided under the TOPS scheme into golds, silvers, and bronzes – a total of 19 medals for India at the Tokyo Olympics.

While the TOPS scheme aimed at polishing existing talent for higher results, the Government of India has designed a future-looking scheme to develop a pool of talent from the remotest part of the country through the Khelo India Scheme. Aimed at mainstreaming sports as a tool for national development, economic development, community development, and individual development, the Khelo India scheme was launched in 2018 with 12 verticals.

Under the Khelo India Scheme, talent search has been started at the grassroots level in two categories: a) Sports potential talent identification and b) Proven talent identification. A zonal approach has been taken by the government in the identification of talent. Grassroot Zonal Talent Identification committees have been formed to scour the remotest part of the country for spotting talent across 20 disciplines in the age group 8 to 14 years, wherein the country has the potential /advantage to excel at the international level.

Under the 'Talent Search and Development' vertical of the Khelo India Scheme, Khelo India Athletes identified and selected under the scheme are provided annual financial assistance of ₹ 6.28 lakh per athlete per annum which includes ₹ 1.20 lakh per annum as Out of Pocket Allowance and ₹ 5.08 lakh for other facilities like coaching, sports science support, diet, equipment, consumables, insurance charges, etc. Further, each Khelo India Centre notified under the Scheme at district levels in various States/Union Territories are eligible to receive ₹ 5 lakh per discipline as a one-time grant and ₹ 5 lakh per discipline as a recurring grant .

Under the scheme, Khelo India Games are organized to provide a platform to the budding talent at the school and university level. Till now, three such games have already been organized and the fourth one is going to be held in Haryana. Seeing the initial impact of the scheme, the Government of India has furnished an Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) memorandum to expand the scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an estimated budget of 8750 crores. While the central government has taken a reform trajectory to transform India into a sporting nation, the role played by the States is equally important to nurture a sports culture.

Case Study: Haryana – The Incubator of SportStars from Rural India

In the recently completed Tokyo Olympics, Haryana sent the maximum Olympians in the Indian contingent -- 31 athletes, which is nearly 25% of the total contingent. Three of them brought gold, silver, and bronze respectively and many were part of the victorious Indian hockey team. The seeds for Haryana's success were sowed back in the 1980s when Haryana hired coaches for different sports across the State. Though things moved on, the real thrust came with the formulation of a Sports Policy in 2006. The policy laid down the foundations for Haryana's success with a focus on spotting, nurturing, and polishing talent from the State for national and international events.

Today, Haryana has a formal institutional mechanism called 'Play 4 India' under which each student in school is encouraged to take upon sport. With the motto ‘catch them young, catch them right’, Haryana conducts Sports and Physical Aptitude Test (SPAT) is in all the schools across the state to identify the high potential athletes in 8-19 age groups. Participants are administered a battery of standardized tests in three rounds and the qualifiers enter the final round called the Sports and Physical Exercise Evaluation and Development  (SPEED) Test where they select a particular game based on their aptitude and counselling. Those who clear the SPEED test are admitted into  Sports and Physical Aptitude Continuous Evaluation (SPACE) where they are trained into sports academies . A monthly stipend of INR 1500 and INR 2000 per month is awarded to the students in the age group 8-14 years and 15-19 years respectively. In addition, cash rewards for successful athletes right from national champions to Olympians have been given by the Haryana State Government. Haryana's tryst with sports at the school level is an ideal recipe to create a continuous supply of highly talented sportsperson of world-class caliber as well as promoting a sports culture at scale.

National Education Policy 2020: An Opportunity to Transform India as a Sporting Nation

In his inaugural address at the second Khelo India winter games, the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India remarked that sports have been given a place of pride in the recent National Education Policy (NEP 2020). An extra-curricular activity, Sports, now will be an integral part of the school and college curriculum with grading in sports counted in the education of the children.

The school education system in India caters to around 26 crore students through a network of 15 lac schools with ~18 crore enrolments in rural India, thus paving the way for scaling sports across the country. The existing schemes of the Government of India such as the Samagra Shiksha, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, etc have a special emphasis on promoting sports in the remotest part of the country. Samagra Shiksha, the flagship scheme of school education in India has components that exclusively focus on providing sports equipment to schools and supporting the Khelo India Scheme.

The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme has set up at least one residential girls school in every educationally backward block of India. The scheme provides access to a high quality holistic education to girls from marginalized communities -- SC, ST, OBC, BPL, and minorities – from class VI-XII in residential mode. Sports is a very important component of the scheme where facilities for sports such as hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, badminton, volleyball, etc have been developed. Sports meets are conducted to provide a platform to girls to excel in sports.

The  Eklavya Model Residential Schools scheme of the government is targeted at providing holistic education to the students from ST category in tribal areas of the country. There is a lot of focus on sports in these schools. Centre of Excellence for Sports (CoE for Sports) has been planned and implemented across Eklavya Model Residential Schools. This Centre of Excellence will have specialized state-of-the-art facilities for one identified individual sport and one group sport in each State with scientific backup along with specialized training, boarding and lodging facilities, sports kit, sports equipment, competition exposure, insurance, medical expenses, etc. as per norms of Sports Authority of India.

It has to be emphasized that sports is a scientific discipline and requires a strategic roadmap to develop future talent and infuse a sporting culture in India. There are certain sports where Indians have a comparative advantage either because of their genetic build or the prolonged assimilation within certain sports. It might be useful to start a campaign namely One State One Sport, wherein each state government will identify a major sport in which it has a competitive advantage along with other sports which may be accorded a little lesser priority.

Conclusion:

The tradition of sports is deeply rooted in the Indian culture dating a few millennia back. Over the years India has emerged as a major force to reckon with in certain sports in the international arena. However, the sporting culture is limited to few pockets of the country which also happen to be the nursery of athletes in India. Recently, the Government of India has taken many initiatives such as the TOPS, Khelo India, Fit India, etc which has the potential to transform the sports landscape of India. The recent successes at the Olympics, commonwealth games, and world championships have been extremely encouraging. Parents and youngsters are increasingly looking at sports as a career in the country. Right now we are the inflection point of a vibrant sporting culture in India which is only to rise steeply given the support and ecosystem building done by the Indian Government.

Dr Prem Singh is Adviser and Piyush Prakash is Senior Associate, NITI Aayog. Views expressed are personal.

This article was originally published in the November edition of Kurukshetra journal.

Irwin, John (1983). "The Ancient Pillar-Cult at Prayāga: Its Pre-Aśokan Origins".  Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland .  115  (2): 253–280

Written reply dated 02.08.2021 in Rajya Sabha by Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Thakur

Haryana Sports and Physical Fitness Policy, 2015

Essay on India The Superpower in Sports

Students are often asked to write an essay on India The Superpower in Sports in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on India The Superpower in Sports

Introduction.

India, a country known for its diverse culture, has also made significant strides in sports. It’s gaining recognition as a potential sports superpower.

Cricket Dominance

Cricket is India’s most popular sport. The Indian cricket team has consistently been a formidable force, winning numerous international tournaments.

Other Sports

India is not just about cricket. The country has shown prowess in other sports like badminton, wrestling, and shooting, earning numerous accolades.

Future Prospects

With increasing facilities and support for sports, India’s future in the global sports arena looks promising. It’s on its way to becoming a sports superpower.

250 Words Essay on India The Superpower in Sports

The dawn of a new era, strategic investments and infrastructure.

The Indian government has been instrumental in fostering sports development. Initiatives like ‘Khelo India’ are aimed at identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots level. Parallelly, private entities have invested in sports infrastructure, providing athletes with world-class training facilities.

Global Recognition

The results of these efforts are evident. India’s impressive performance at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where it bagged an unprecedented seven medals, including a gold in athletics, is a testament to its rising dominance. Indian athletes are now making their presence felt on global platforms, bringing laurels to the nation.

Emerging Sports Culture

Moreover, the growing popularity of leagues like IPL (cricket), ISL (football), and Pro Kabaddi League indicates an evolving sports culture. These platforms not only provide exposure to athletes but also encourage youth participation, thereby creating a robust talent pipeline.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite these strides, challenges persist. The need for broader sports education, tackling regional disparities, and promoting gender equality in sports are areas that need attention.

In conclusion, India’s journey towards becoming a sports superpower is on the right path, backed by strategic initiatives and an emerging sports culture. However, to sustain this momentum, it is imperative to address the existing challenges and ensure an inclusive and holistic development in sports.

500 Words Essay on India The Superpower in Sports

The evolution of india in sports, cricket: the national obsession.

Cricket, without a doubt, is a religion in India. The country’s international success, particularly in the World Cup and other major tournaments, has solidified its status as a cricketing superpower. However, the rise of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has further elevated India’s standing, transforming the nation into a global hub for cricket.

Emergence in Other Sports

Despite cricket’s dominance, India has been making its presence felt in other sports as well. In badminton, players like P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal have consistently won laurels at the international level. In wrestling, grapplers like Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia have brought home medals from the Olympics and World Championships.

Investment and Infrastructure

The rise of India as a sporting nation can also be attributed to increased investment and improved infrastructure. The government’s initiatives, such as the ‘Khelo India’ program, aim to promote sports at the grassroots level. Private entities, too, have started investing in sports other than cricket, leading to the development of leagues like the Pro Kabaddi League and the Indian Super League in football.

Despite these strides, India still has a long way to go to establish itself as a sports superpower. Challenges such as lack of access to quality training and infrastructure, inadequate funding, and the absence of a sports culture in many parts of the country continue to hinder progress.

India’s journey in sports has been marked by significant achievements and steady progress. As the country continues to build on this momentum, there is a real possibility that India can emerge as a superpower in sports. This journey, however, requires sustained effort, investment, and a cultural shift in the way sports are perceived and pursued in the country. The dream of India becoming a sports superpower is not far-fetched, but it needs collective effort and determination to turn it into a reality.

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Sports sector in India: Issues and challenges – Explained, Pointwise

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• 1 Introduction
• 2 India’s Progression in Sports
• 3 Benefits of augmenting the Sports Sector
• 4 Issues associated with the Sports Sector
• 5 Steps taken for the sports sector
• 6 Suggestions to improve sports
• 7 Conclusion

Introduction

The conclusion of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 brought immense joy to the nation. India won its first gold medal in track and field events of the Olympics. A total of 7 medals were won, which marks India’s best score at the Olympics. However, despite this, India finished 48th in the event. Whereas Japan, with a far less population, came 3rd on the leaderboard.  

Thus, it shows that with the right guidance and hard work, it is not impossible for India to compete against countries like the US and China.  The government and the private sector should come forward to support the sportspersons and breed robust sports culture in India. 

India’s Progression in Sports

• The country has been winning more medals at international events. This time India won 7 medals (1 Gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze) at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The country was deemed as a medal contender in multiple sporting events. 
• It is a major improvement in comparison to the last few decades when the country used to perform poorly at international levels.
• It must also be acknowledged that government support for the sport has been increasing . The government has launched many initiatives for the promotion of the sports sector in India.
• Private sector involvement in the sport has increased. Furthermore, the rise of private academies that are involved in the development of sport at various levels is helping strengthen the facilities available to our sportspeople. 
• Corporations have come forward to support individual athletes with potential, showing a depth of commitment that was absent earlier.

Benefits of augmenting the Sports Sector

Alternative careers : For those for whom opportunities are few, and jobs are scarce, sport becomes a powerful mobility device. A strong sports sector encourages an average/ poor academic student to make a career in sports.   

Health advantages: Sports induce an individual to keep his/her body in the best form for winning an event. The existence of a sports culture in turn induces the masses to adopt a healthy lifestyle just like the sportspersons.

Channelization of Youth energy : India is having a very young population and is soon going to become the world’s youngest country. In such a scenario, a robust sports sector can help in reaping the potential demographic dividend . 

Tackling numerous societal problems : Many women perceive sports as an opportunity to escape the confines of a highly regulated life. They use it as a tool to show their potential and tackle the patriarchal mindset.  Further success of sportspersons like Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, etc. have played a pivotal role in curbing the problems of child marriage and son meta preference.

Revenue generation : Developing robust sports infrastructure in the country will allow India to host a greater number of international events. Such hosting boosts tourism in the country and results in enhancing the revenue and employment in the region.

Promotes the spirit of Unity in Diversity : People cheer for the Indian athletes and Indian teams at international events. An improvement in sports automatically fosters the spirit of brotherhood amongst the people of diverse nations.  For instance, the Pan India support enjoyed by PV Sindhu enhances belongingness between India’s north and south. 

Issues associated with the Sports Sector

Funding crunch : Indian Government spends way less than China, the US, and other better-performing countries in international sporting events. This induces athletes to do private spending for arranging good quality equipment, training and travelling, thereby creating a very big hurdle for poor people.

Resource Deficit : There is a dearth of good-quality sporting infrastructure available across the country. The government has developed some good stadiums in urban regions, but the situation is very poor in rural regions.

Attitudinal Barriers : Sports is not considered a lucrative career option in our country. Parents encourage their children to become doctors and engineers rather than sportspeople. This is reflected in the popular saying of Kheloge Kudoge hoge kharab; Padhoge Likhoge hoge nawab. It means sports will spoil your life, but academics will give you a king’s life.

High-Performance Pressure : A high degree of pressure is inflicted upon a sportsperson to perform or else be prepared to live a vulnerable life. This sometimes creates excessive mental stress in them or induces them to resort to unethical means like doping. For instance, Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav wasn’t able to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics due to doping scandal.

Governance Issues

Sports governance is marred with multiple issues –

• The expenditure on sports is highly skewed in favour of male athletes and urban regions, in comparison to females and rural areas.
• There have been allegations of bias and nepotism in the selection process, especially against the lower castes.
• There is more focus on post-success incentivization rather than pre-success support in India. For instance, the Haryana Government announced a 6 crore reward after Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Other challenges:

Religious Barriers : Some sports like swimming and athletics require attire that does not fully cover a woman’s body and are against the laws of some religions.

Lack of Sports Culture : India doesn’t have a sports culture wherein people enthusiastically watch sports and promote the same. However, enthusiasm is shown mainly to cricket due to which it easily attracts investment and pays the cricketers a hefty sum of revenue.

Steps taken for the sports sector

National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR) :   It aims to support high-level research, education, and innovation with respect to the high performance of elite athletes.  The scheme has two components: One is setting up of NCSSR and the other is focused on funding the creation of Sports Sciences Departments in Six Universities and Sports Medicine Departments in Six Medical Colleges.

Khelo India : It is a national program that aims to develop grassroots-level talent by providing them with a national-level platform.

• It is a Pan India Sports Scholarship scheme that would cover 1,000 most talented young athletes each year across select sports disciplines.
• Each athlete selected under the scheme shall receive an annual scholarship worth Rs. 5.00 lakh for 8 consecutive years .
• It is based on Gujarat’s model of “Khel Mahakumbh” in which schools and colleges from across the country participate in 27 different disciplines.

Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) : It aims to identify, groom and prepare potential medal prospects for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Under this scheme, athletes and sportspersons will get customized training from top coaches at modern and well-equipped sports facilities and institutions. In 2020, the government also launched Junior TOPS , a similar scheme to produce Olympic winners in 2028 targeting children as young as 10 – 12 years.

National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) : It was established in November 1998 under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890 with the aim of promoting sports and games in the country.

Suggestions to improve sports

• The Government should increase fund allocation to other sports and also ensure equitable allocation of funds across gender and regions. 
• It must offer deserving players more jobs and remuneration in order to encourage them to take sports as a career.
• Further, Transparency must be brought in the selection procedure of office bearers of the association in order to reduce nepotism in the selection of candidates.
• Parents and educational institutions must also encourage the students to excel in sports, not just in academics.  This requires an increase in the Sports quota in Universities along with the opening of more universities.  Parents can be sensitized with the support of NGOs and civil society groups to put their children in sports.  For instance, Bridges of Sports is sensitising the Siddi Community of coastal Karnataka to send their children in sports and also providing the requisite support for the same.
• The focus should also be placed on opening more domestic premier leagues like the Indian Pro Kabaddi league. This will bring more money and attention to sports other than cricket. It would also attract the youth to take up diverse sports that were otherwise seen as a risky career.
• Apart from sportsperson, the focus should be placed on creating more coaches and physiotherapists. It will help in increasing the trained manpower experts in Sports Sciences and Sports Medicine and will, in turn, reduce the dependency of the foreign experts.

The Government needs to acknowledge that Indian athletes compete less against their sporting rivals and more against the circumstances. They should be given an enabling environment to nurture themselves so as to convert the dream of “Sports for All” into reality.

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Essay on Indian Culture for Students and Children

500+ words essay on indian culture.

India is a country that boasts of a rich culture. The culture of India refers to a collection of minor unique cultures. The culture of India comprises of clothing, festivals, languages, religions, music, dance, architecture, food, and art in India. Most noteworthy, Indian culture has been influenced by several foreign cultures throughout its history. Also, the history of India’s culture is several millennia old.

Components of Indian Culture

First of all, Indian origin religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism . All of these religions are based on karma and dharma. Furthermore, these four are called as Indian religions. Indian religions are a major category of world religions along with Abrahamic religions.

Also, many foreign religions are present in India as well. These foreign religions include Abrahamic religions. The Abrahamic religions in India certainly are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Besides Abrahamic religions, Zoroastrianism and Bahá’í Faith are the other foreign religions which exist in India. Consequently, the presence of so many diverse religions has given rise to tolerance and secularism in Indian culture.

The Joint family system is the prevailing system of Indian culture . Most noteworthy, the family members consist of parents, children, children’s spouses, and offspring. All of these family members live together. Furthermore, the eldest male member is the head of the family.

Arranged marriages are the norm in Indian culture. Probably most Indians have their marriages planned by their parents. In almost all Indian marriages, the bride’s family gives dowry to bridegroom. Weddings are certainly festive occasions in Indian culture. There is involvement of striking decorations, clothing, music, dance, rituals in Indian weddings. Most noteworthy, the divorce rates in India are very low.

India celebrates a huge number of festivals. These festivals are very diverse due to multi-religious and multi-cultural Indian society. Indians greatly value festive occasions. Above all, the whole country joins in the celebrations irrespective of the differences.

Traditional Indian food, arts, music, sports, clothing, and architecture vary significantly across different regions. These components are influenced by various factors. Above all, these factors are geography, climate, culture, and rural/urban setting.

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Perceptions of Indian Culture

Indian culture has been an inspiration to many writers. India is certainly a symbol of unity around the world. Indian culture is certainly very complex. Furthermore, the conception of Indian identity poses certain difficulties. However, despite this, a typical Indian culture does exist. The creation of this typical Indian culture results from some internal forces. Above all, these forces are a robust Constitution, universal adult franchise, secular policy , flexible federal structure, etc.

Indian culture is characterized by a strict social hierarchy. Furthermore, Indian children are taught their roles and place in society from an early age. Probably, many Indians believe that gods and spirits have a role in determining their life. Earlier, traditional Hindus were divided into polluting and non-polluting occupations. Now, this difference is declining.

Indian culture is certainly very diverse. Also, Indian children learn and assimilate in the differences. In recent decades, huge changes have taken place in Indian culture. Above all, these changes are female empowerment , westernization, a decline of superstition, higher literacy , improved education, etc.

To sum it up, the culture of India is one of the oldest cultures in the World. Above all, many Indians till stick to the traditional Indian culture in spite of rapid westernization. Indians have demonstrated strong unity irrespective of the diversity among them. Unity in Diversity is the ultimate mantra of Indian culture.

FAQs on Indian Culture

Q1 What are the Indian religions?

A1 Indian religions refer to a major category of religion. Most noteworthy, these religions have their origin in India. Furthermore, the major Indian religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

Q2 What are changes that have taken place in Indian culture in recent decades?

A2 Certainly, many changes have taken place in Indian culture in recent decades. Above all, these changes are female empowerment, westernization, a decline of superstition, higher literacy, improved education, etc.

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Misogyny in Indian Sports

• September 5, 2024
• Insights , Gender Impact Studies Center , Gender, Pluralism and Social Inclusion , Policy Update , Society, Literature, Arts, Sports and Culture

Policy Update Arohi Sanyal

In India sports hasn’t been given the due it deserves – it is, at best, considered as an extracurricular activity while in most other nations sports is considered equivalent to studies and kids who show potential are taken under professional training. Due to the patriarchal mindset the situation is worse for women specially from socio economic backward sections of society as they are denied any opportunity especially after a certain age as it is felt that they should be engaged only in housework.

Moreover sports are gender specific – women wishing to pursue aggressive sports like boxing are discouraged as it is considered as a masculine activity. A combination of these factors ensure that very few in India take up sports, out of them the tally of women is still lesser and the number is miniscule when it comes to female professional sportspeople.

Recently in the Paris Olympics when Manu Bhaker won bronze medal in shooting Sports Minister Shri Mandviya said that the government had spent Rs 2 crore on her training under the Khelo India scheme (Sports Minister Reveals Amount Spent on Olympic Bronze Medalist Manu Bhaker’s Training, 2024). While the achievement is highly commendable and the governmental support contributed to it, it would be interesting to introspect the way the government has boasted about it and analyze the ground realities for women sportsperson.

Khelo India Scheme

The scheme was launched in the year 2017-18 by the then Sports Minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in Delhi to revive sports culture in India and build a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establish India as a great sporting nation (Khelo India, n.d.). Under this scheme there are 12 verticals and one is sports for women with the goal to encourage women to participate in sports especially those games where participation of women is low. (Operational Guidelines For Sports For Women, 2018)

Barriers Faced By Women Athletes

The hurdles for women in sports begin even before they step into the athletic arena, as a woman is expected to be a good wife and mother, the idea of a girl becoming a professional sportsperson is discouraged for reasons ranging from fear that she will become dark, too masculine, be disfigured while playing or need to go out to participate in tournaments- all situations which would mar her chance of getting a good husband. Parents feel that women will not be permitted to play after marriage or motherhood and encourage them to take up more conventional career options.

Women who do take up professional sports face multiple issues like sexual harassment like the recent Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) case where Vinesh Phogat, two times world championship medalist, alleged least 10 women wrestlers had told her that they had been sexually exploited by WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh (Wrestling Federation of India: Is Indian Sport Seeing Its #MeToo Moment?, 2023).

Another issue is unequal pay- according to the BCCI pay structure, the highest-grade male cricketers receive Rs. 7 crore annual salary whereas a women cricketer receives only Rs 50 lakhs (Mukherjee, 2023). Further, the games played by women athletes are not given the same importance as men, for example cricket, the most popular game in India, has a women’s team too but it is unfortunate that 90% of the country is not aware of it and neither knows the captain of the team who has performed in almost 180 one day internationals for India (Rehani, 2018, ) .

Impact of Discrimination

As per a report of UNESCO 49% of adolescent girls drop out of sports participation and 21% of women athletes have faced sexual harassment(UNESCO Study Reveals Huge Sports Drop-Out Rate Among Girls, 2024). The country cannot expect medals in any game when 48.5% (Women and Men in India 2022, n.d.) of the population of women is not allowed to participate in sports.

U.S.A versus India

In the 2024 Olympics U.S.A women won the highest number of medals as women are encouraged to participate in sports. As per an online article women said that she never felt that she is incapable of doing any kind of sports (Plaschke, 2016). A poll was conducted by Seton Hall Sports Poll where they found out that 50% of the general population agreed that representation of women athletes should be more in the media as they have developed interest towards it (Ricciardelli, 2023).

44% of the population felt that men and women should compete together in sports (Ricciardelli, 2023) . In the U.S.A women’s sports gets 15% (Sim, 2023) of media coverage compared to India where women athletes receive only 4% (Sijapati, 2019) of media coverage .

Way Forward

India has a long way to go and sports need a lot of reforms like formation of a complaints committee for dealing with cases of sexual harassment, the government can provide incentives to women and more media coverage which will enable the nation to score big in international competitions.

• Khelo india. (n.d.). Khelo India. https://kheloindia.gov.in/
• Mukherjee, R. (2023, Sepember 4th). Will the gender pay gap in Indian sports ever be bridged? The ESTD. https://www.theestablished.com/culture/living/will-the-gender-pay-gap-in-indian-sports-ever-be bridged#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20BCCI%20pay,widens%20further%20in%20lower%20grades .
• Operational Guidelines For Sports For Woman. (2018, September 26th). Khelo India-Sports For Women. https://www.yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Khelo%20India%20-%20Sports%20For%20Women.pdf
• Plaschke, B. (2016, August 16th). American women are dominating the Games, and it didn’t happen by accident. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/
• Rehani, A. (2018). Women Sports in India: Constraints and Challenges A Case Study Based on Indian Women’s Cricket Team. https://events.rdias.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Women-Sports-in-India-Constraints-and-Challenges-paper-and-certificate.pdf
• Ricciardelli, M. (2023, February 17th). Poll on Women’s Sports in America: ‘Show Us More and We’ll Watch More’. Seton Hall University. https://www.shu.edu/index.html
• Sijapati, A. (2019, October 26th). That’s What She Said: Media Representation of Women in Sports. The Gazelle. https://www.thegazelle.org/
• Sim, J. (2023, October 25th). Study: Women’s sports now getting 15% of US sports media coverage. Sport’s Pro. https://www.sportspromedia.com/
• Sports Authority Of India. (n.d.). genda Items for the 44 th Departmental Project Approval Committee (DPAC) [Report by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]. Sports Authority Of India. https://sportsauthorityofindia.gov.in/sai/public/assets/pdfs/DPAC/44th%20DPAC/44th%20DPAC%20Agenda.pdf
• Sports minister reveals amount spent on Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker’s training. (2024, July 29th). Mint. https://www.livemint.com/
• UNESCO study reveals huge sports drop-out rate among girls. (2024, July 25th). Global Sustainable Sport. https://www.globalsustainablesport.com/
• Women and Men in India 2022. (n.d.). Dristhi IAS. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/women-and-men-in-india-2022#:~:text=In%20absolute%20figures%2C%20this%20translates,female%20population%20share%20(48.8%25).
• Wrestling Federation of India: Is Indian sport seeing its #MeToo moment? (2023, February 1st). BBC. https://www.bbc.com/

About The Contributor : Arohi Sanyal is a research intern at IMPRI .She has obtained a Master in Gender Studies from Dr. B.R Ambedkar University,Delhi. Her interest lies in gender related issues

Acknowledgment : The author would like to express sincere gratitude to her mother, Dr Arjun Kumar, Ms Aasthaba Jadeja, Ms Deepa Baghel , and Mr. Dhruv for their invaluable contribution to this article.

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Sports Governance in India

• 28 Jul 2022
• 11 min read
• GS Paper - 2
• Government Policies & Interventions

This editorial is based on “India at Commonwealth Games: Sports governance needs to change” which was published in The Indian Express on 28/07/2022. It talks about the upcoming Commonwealth Games and sports governance in India.

For Prelims: Commonwealth Games, National Sports Development Code of India 2011, Indian Olympic Association, National Anti-Doping Agency, Fit India Movement, Khelo India, National Sports Award Scheme.

For Mains: Current Model of Sports Governance in India, Issues Associated with Sports Governance in India, Government Initiatives to promote Sports Culture in India.

The 21 st edition of the Commonwealth Games kicks off with the opening ceremony in the host city of Birmingham, United Kingdom . India is leading the way as a strong contingent.

Given India’s economy and the country’s young demographics , the narrative of Sports in India is undergoing a transformation. But sport's booming interest in India has not necessarily translated into better performance in the overall sports sector, barring a few sports like cricket and shooting.

There is a high level of complexity in the Indian sport sector as diverse organizations (e.g., governing bodies, private companies, not-for-profit foundations, etc.) are responsible for delivering and managing sport in India. Ultimately, the size and complexity of the sector is a significant contributor to a series of specific governance challenges for sport in India.

What is the History of Sports Governance in India?

• In the early 1950s , the Federal Government created the All India Council of Sports (AICS) to apprehend the declining standards of sports in the country.
• In 1982 , after Asian games, the department of sports was transformed into the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• In 1984 , National Sports Policy was initiated.
• In 2000 , the department was converted into a Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).
• In 2011 , the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports notified the National Sports Development Code of India 2011.
• In 2022 , Ministry of Civil Aviation launched National Air Sport Policy 2022 (NASP 2022) for Aerobatics, Aero modeling, Ballooning, Drones , Hang gliding and powered hang gliding, Parachuting etc.

What is the Current Model of Sports Governance in India?

• The model in India has stakeholders such as the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), Indian Olympic Association (IOA) , State Olympic Association (SOA), National Sports Federation (NSF), Sports Authority of India (SAI), etc.
• A broad level graphical representation of the arrangements amongst them is as follows:

What are the Issues Associated with Sports Governance in India?

• Lack of Checks and Balances: In the pretext of autonomy, they have been allowed to function in any manner without checks and balances.
• For instance, in July 2010, the Central Vigilance Commission released a report which showed that there were irregularities in 14 projects of Commonwealth Games held in India.
• Subsequently, the Lodha Committee was appointed by the Supreme Court of India to analyze and recommend implementable actions for improving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• These organizations continue to rely on volunteers to manage the operations of the organization rather than hiring skilled professionals to handle the increased workload.
• Sports as a Hobby vs Profession: In India, sports is primarily viewed as a hobby due to its low success rate, academic pressures and job-seeker mentality, making it difficult for youth to pursue sports as a profession.
• According to the Constitution of India, sport is a State subject consequently there is no comprehensive approach for the development of sports infrastructure uniformly throughout the country.
• Performance Enhancing Drugs: Use of performance enhancing drugs is still a major problem in the sports sector. This problem still needs to be addressed effectively, despite the creation of the National Anti Doping Agency in the country.

What are the Recent Government Initiatives to Promote Sports Culture?

• Fit India Movement
• Khelo India
• SAI Training Centers Scheme
• Sports Talent Search Portal
• National Sports Awards Scheme
• Target Olympic Podium

What Should be the Way Forward?

• The quality of infrastructure can be scaled up to the village level and regional centers should be made available for those who are serious at taking their sport professionally.
• Effective Legislative Backing: In the absence of strong legislation, there will be no efficacy in the functions of the sports authorities. Also, there might be absolute political intervention, which can be easily checked with a well-drafted legislation reducing anomalies.
• However, this needs to be done in conjunction with the sectors in stake and cannot be dictatorial along with inclusion of professionals in the strategic and management spot.
• Formation of the separate ‘Corporate Functions’ group for management of sponsorships, media rights and government funding will help fix the responsibility of revenue management.
• The education system should be revamped to give sports an equal importance in the holistic upbringing of a child.
• There is a small town called Iten in Kenya. It has produced more than 10 world champions in athletics in the last couple of decades.
• Almost every middle-distance runner in the world has been to Iten for training at least once in their lifetime.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000: (2021)

• American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
• The award was received mostly by ‘Formula One’ players so far.
• Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship: (2021)

• The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
• New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Conservation of water, environment part of India’s cultural consciousness: PM Modi

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Surat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called the conservation of water and environment a part of India’s cultural consciousness, pitching for the “reduce, reuse, recharge and recycle” mantra to save water.

He was virtually speaking at a programme marking the launch of the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative in Surat, a step aimed at strengthening community involvement in water conservation.

“For water conservation, we have to work on the mantra of ‘reduce, reuse, recharge and recycle’. We also need to adopt innovative techniques and the latest technology to conserve water,” said the PM.

Modi said India has just four per cent of freshwater resources, and many parts of the country face a water crisis.

“In the last few days, various parts of India have seen rain fury, which was unprecedented,” said the PM.

Stressing the need to save water, he said water and environment conservation is part of India’s cultural consciousness.

The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative aligns with the ongoing "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain" campaign, reinforcing Modi's vision of collaborative water management to ensure long-term water security, according to an official statement.

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