New Delhi: Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and a prominent BJD lawmaker, has enthusiastically applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Union Cabinet approval of ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’.
In a post on his X platform, Shri Singh Deo hailed the policy as a “watershed moment” for Indian sports, underscoring its immense potential to revolutionize the nation’s athletic landscape.
“I truly believe the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 marks a watershed moment for Indian sports,” Shri Singh Deo stated in his post, expressing profound optimism about the initiative’s impact. He specifically highlighted the policy’s “athlete-first approach and focus on excellence” as crucial elements that will “inspire generations to dream bigger.”
The senior BJD leader extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Modi, stating, “Thank you Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji for this visionary step. #KheloBharatNiti.” This commendation is noteworthy, signifying a rare moment of bipartisan appreciation for a national policy, particularly from a leader of the Biju Janata Dal, a regional party.
The ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’, which supersedes the 2001 National Sports Policy, aims to fundamentally bolster India’s sports ecosystem. Its core objectives include prioritizing athlete welfare, promoting grassroots talent identification, fostering a culture of sporting excellence, and making India a top-five sporting nation by 2047, with an eye on the 2036 Olympic Games bid. The policy is anchored on five key pillars: excellence on the global stage, sports for economic development, sports for social development, sports as a people’s movement, and integration with education through the National Education Policy.
Shri Singh Deo’s strong endorsement suggests that the policy is being well-received by sports federations. For the NRAI, under the leadership of Shri Singh Deo, the ‘Khelo Bharat Niti 2025’ is expected to provide a significant boost. With its focus on athlete development, enhanced infrastructure, and improved governance for National Sports Federations, the policy will likely strengthen the NRAI’s ongoing efforts to nurture shooting talent from the grassroots level to elite international competition.
The emphasis on consistent competitive exposure and financial support for athletes, as well as the promotion of a “league culture” as seen with the planned Shooting League of India (SLI) 2025, will further empower the NRAI in developing and elevating Indian shooters on both national and international stages. Federations anticipate a significant positive shift in the development and performance of Indian athletes across all disciplines, including shooting.