The Union Cabinet of India has approved the National Sports Policy 2025, introducing a new framework aimed at strengthening the country’s sports sector. The policy’s primary objectives include increasing physical activity, improving public health outcomes, and enhancing India’s competitiveness in international sporting events such as the Olympics. However, despite its growing popularity and economic potential, esports has once again been excluded, drawing criticism from industry stakeholders.
Policy shifts in Indian sports: From 2001 to 2025
The National Sports Policy of 2001 largely viewed sports as extracurricular activities. In contrast, the 2025 policy adopts a more structured and performance-oriented approach, focusing on international competitiveness and broader participation.
The earlier policy faced challenges due to limited funding, outdated goals, and poor coordination among stakeholders. These issues hindered the development of India’s sporting potential. The 2025 policy aims to address these shortcomings through updated objectives and a more integrated strategy.
Five key focus areas of NSP 2025
- International performance: The policy prioritises improving India’s performance in global competitions such as the Olympics and Paralympics. It outlines measures including early talent identification, the establishment of specialised training centres, and access to high-quality coaching.
- Economic contribution: NSP 2025 identifies sectors such as sports technology, infrastructure development, manufacturing, and tourism as potential areas for investment and employment generation.
- Social impact: The policy highlights the role of sports in promoting community engagement, gender equality, and opportunities for underrepresented groups.
- Mass participation: The policy encourages widespread public involvement in sports, supporting initiatives like local leagues and community events to increase grassroots participation.
- Educational integration: In alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, the policy promotes the inclusion of sports in school curricula. It proposes assessment mechanisms and incentives to foster life skills such as discipline and teamwork.
Vision and implementation
India has formally expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. NSP 2025 outlines preparatory steps including infrastructure development, athlete training programmes, and administrative planning to support this bid.
The policy was developed through consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including athletes, sports federations, NITI Aayog, state governments, and members of the public. This collaborative approach was intended to ensure that the policy reflects diverse perspectives and ground realities.
Esports missing from the NSP 2025 framework
Despite significant growth in revenue and participation, esports has not been included in the National Sports Policy 2025. Industry experts view this as a missed opportunity to engage with a younger, digitally active audience. Professionals and entrepreneurs in the esports sector have expressed concern over the exclusion. They argue that esports deserves formal recognition and structured investment, similar to traditional sports.
Sriram Vishaal, Head of Esports at Skyesports, commented,“Esports athletes dedicate just as much time and discipline as traditional sports competitors, yet the sector remains unrecognised in the National Sports Policy 2025. The absence of international achievements and a central NSF for esports are likely factors behind this omission. Still, with several states actively promoting esports, I am confident that a more structured national framework will emerge in the future.”
Offering a more critical perspective, Dhiman Kashyap, CEO of Resilience Esports, suggested that internal challenges within the industry may have contributed to its exclusion. He called for a commercial and cultural reset to earn institutional recognition.
Kashyap stated, “The National Sports Policy 2025 has not marginalised esports; rather, the Indian esports sector is confronting challenges of its own making. Over the past several years, a handful of market leaders pursued rapid expansion without a sustainable commercial foundation. This approach depleted investor and sponsor capital while delivering little measurable return on investment, eroding confidence across the value chain.”
He added, “The industry is now grappling with systemic issues: fragmented governance, toxic organisational culture, frequent team closures due to inadequate funding, salary disputes aired on social media, breaches of competitive integrity at LAN events, and multiple allegations of workplace harassment. Additionally, some high-profile players have promoted unrealistic expectations, shifting focus from long-term skill development to short-term financial gain.”
On government stance and esports landscape
Kashyap noted that government officials are well aware of these internal flaws. He stressed that without major reforms, expecting recognition or policy support would be premature.
Kashyap noted, “Government stakeholders are acutely aware of these concerns. Before esports can claim deeper institutional recognition or broader public support, the sector must reset its commercial model, rebuild professional standards, and reaffirm core values of transparency, athlete welfare, and competitive integrity.”
Speaking on the current state of Indian esports, he emphasised that while there are occasional opportunities for players, the industry lacks the robust foundation needed for long-term growth, making institutional recognition difficult to justify at this stage.
He concluded, “In its current form, Indian esports provides isolated opportunities—occasional cash rewards and sponsored travel—but lacks the structural foundations required for sustained growth. The path forward demands industry-wide reform, not applause. Until substantive changes are implemented, any recognition would be premature.”
Global developments in esports
Saudi Arabia has made substantial investments in its esports sector, aiming to build a $1.7 billion industry by 2029. The Esports World Cup 2025, with a prize pool of $70 million, reflects the scale of its ambitions.
Countries such as the United States, China, and South Korea have introduced visa categories for esports professionals, recognising competitive gaming as a legitimate sport. Indian stakeholders suggest that similar policies could support the growth of the domestic esports industry.
