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| Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports |
| Native name | युवा मामले और खेल मंत्रालय |
| Formed | 1982 |
| Jurisdiction | New Delhi, India |
| Headquarters | Shastri Bhawan |
| Minister1 name | Anurag Thakur |
| Minister1 pfo | Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports |
| Chief1 name | S. K. Prabhat |
| Chief1 pfo | Secretary |
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India) is the central administrative body responsible for formulation and administration of policies related to youth affairs and sports in India. It evolved through institutional reforms and policy shifts to coordinate national programs, oversee statutory bodies and manage high-performance athlete development. The ministry interfaces with international organizations, state bodies and civil society to implement schemes affecting millions of young people and sportspersons.
The ministry traces antecedents to the Department of Youth Affairs created in the early 1980s during the tenure of the Indira Gandhi administration, later reorganised under successive cabinets including Rajiv Gandhi and P. V. Narasimha Rao. Major milestones include creation of the Sports Authority of India in 1984, establishment of the National Youth Policy frameworks, and the merger and bifurcation episodes under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh cabinets. The ministry's evolution paralleled India's hosting of multi-sport events such as the Commonwealth Games (2010) and participation in the Olympic Games, shaping infrastructure projects, legacy planning and international sporting diplomacy with entities like the International Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Federation.
The ministry comprises two departments: the Department of Youth Affairs and the Department of Sports. It administers statutory bodies including the Sports Authority of India, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and advisory bodies like the National Sports Development Fund and High Performance Directorate. Administrative control is exercised from Shastri Bhawan with a Secretary-level civil servant supported by Joint Secretaries, Directors and specialized divisions for grassroots programmes, elite sport, anti-doping and international relations. The ministry also coordinates with state sport authorities, the Indian Olympic Association, national sports federations such as the All India Football Federation and Board of Control for Cricket in India for policy implementation.
Primary functions include formulation of youth policies, allocation of grants to national federations, development of sports infrastructure, athlete scholarships and coaching support. The ministry oversees talent identification programmes, funding mechanisms like the Khelo India initiative, and anti-doping enforcement in collaboration with the National Anti-Doping Agency (India). It negotiates hosting rights with international federations, issues recognition to national sports federations, and represents India at forums such as the United Nations youth assemblies and continental confederations like the Asian Games Federation and Olympic Council of Asia.
Flagship interventions include Khelo India which integrates grassroots talent hunts, annual youth games and infrastructure development; the Fit India Movement launched to promote fitness across demographics; and the elite-targeted Target Olympic Podium Scheme that funds medal prospects. The ministry has promoted niche schemes like the Laureus Sport for Good partnerships, the National Sports Talent Contest and legacy projects linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Youth engagement programmes administered include the National Service Scheme, Nehru Yuva Kendra, and the Youth Hostels Association of India initiatives for mobility and volunteering.
The ministry supports development through infrastructure grants to stadia, sports complexes and rural playfields, establishment of High Performance Centres, and coaching accreditation with bodies such as the International Association of Athletics Federations and World Athletics. It provides financial assistance to national federations including the All India Football Federation, Hockey India, Archery Association of India and the Wrestling Federation of India. Initiatives emphasize grassroots-to-elite pathways exemplified by partnerships with institutions like the Sports Authority of India academies, collaborations with the Asian Development Bank for facility financing, and talent pipelines that feed into events like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
The ministry formulates policy frameworks addressing skills, civic engagement and entrepreneurship among youth through schemes such as the Youth Hostels, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan rural outreach, and the National Youth Policy editions aligning with Sustainable Development Goals discussions at United Nations forums. Programmes target employability via vocational linkages with bodies like the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and educational institutions including the University Grants Commission and Jawaharlal Nehru University for campus engagement. Volunteering and leadership cultivation occur through the National Cadet Corps and exchange programmes with multilateral partners.
Funding streams include central budget allocations approved by the Union Cabinet and Parliament with earmarked heads for schemes like Khelo India, athlete fellowships and infrastructure grants. The ministry administers public funds alongside trust mechanisms such as the National Sports Development Fund and collaborates with corporate sponsors regulated under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs rules and Sports Code stipulations for national federations. Financial oversight involves audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and periodic evaluations to align expenditure with targets for participation, performance and legacy outcomes.
Category:Government ministries of India Category:Sport in India Category:Youth organisations based in India