India will roll out a dedicated sports goods manufacturing policy by the end of the year, which will not only help nurture sporting talent, but also make the country a prominent exporter of sports goods globally, said Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya here on Saturday.

Athletes in several sports disciplines have to rely on costly imported equipment to compete at the highest level to give them the cutting edge, but the minister said that by November-December this year, a scheme would be launched which would bolster manufacturing of sports goods and equipment in a big way.

“By November-December, a scheme will be launched so that the country can become the best sports goods manufacturer, one that provides top-class facilities, empowers the entire ecosystem and helps India emerge as a prominent exporter of sports goods globally,” said Mandaviya during the Sports Goods Manufacturing Conclave.

He said India has the ability to achieve anything and that the country is looking at making sports medicines, sports infrastructure, sports literature and sports education design a part of the bigger sports goods manufacturing project.

“The sports ecosystem is growing at a very fast pace. Our country has the capability to achieve everything. What we need to understand are the challenges ahead. In the coming days, how do we move forward in the sports manufacturing sector? We can also make sports medicines, sports infrastructure, sports literature and sports education design a part of sports goods manufacturing,” the sports minister said.

Stating that the ministry would reach out to stakeholders to decide on a pathway to strengthen the sector to drive greater production and export, Mandaviya said, “Sports goods manufacturing sector is a priority for the government. The first pillar of the National Sports Governance Bill was athlete-centric governance. It also addressed the disputes of the federations. Policies will be made through discussions with all stakeholders, including NITI Aayog and the manufacturers. The work of policy framing will be completed by September.”

Govt to back sports equipment startups

The government will encourage sports equipment manufacturing startups in the country to reduce the financial burden on athletes and bring the sector under the “Make in India” initiative, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse said on Saturday.

Khadse said promoting indigenous manufacturing would not only ease costs for athletes, but also mark a significant economic shift in the sports ecosystem. “Definitely, we are doing it in line with Make in India,” Khadse told the media during a press conference at the National Sports Day Conclave organised by the Sports Authority of India’s Regional Centre in Mumbai.

“You must have heard from many people that sports equipment is very expensive. Whatever quality of sports equipment that we are arranging is something we are importing. If we try to make this equipment with a certain standard in India, I think there will be a big change in the sports ecosystem,” she said.

The minister said duties and charges on imported equipment had pushed up costs and indigenous production of world-standard gear would help reduce prices significantly. “The duties and charges we have to pay will be reduced. The price of sports equipment is very high. If we start manufacturing these with the same quality, I think there will be a drop in prices too,” Khadse said, adding that the start-ups would be encouraged under the PPP (public-private partnership) model or through tie-up with international companies.