Explore Business Standard
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday joined the country in paying rich tributes to hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand on his birthday, taking the occasion to reiterate the government's commitment to making India a "global hub for sporting excellence". August 29 is celebrated as the National Sports Day in memory of Major Dhyan Chand, who is widely regarded as the greatest field hockey player in history. He earned India three Olympic gold medals -- 1928, 1932 and 1936 -- with his extraordinary ball control skills and goal-scoring ability. The national hockey stadium in the heart of the capital is named after the legend. "Greetings on National Sports Day! On this special occasion, we pay tribute to Major Dhyan Chand Ji, whose excellence continues to inspire generations," wrote the PM on 'X'. Reflecting on India's evolving sporting landscape, the PM reaffirmed his government's dedication to fostering a culture of sports and fitness, strengthening institutional support for athletes, and .
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said India aspires to be among the top five sporting nation in the world by 2047, the centenary of the country's independence. Mandaviya said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has progressed leaps and bounds in the sporting sector and many reforms have been introduced in the area. "The Prime Minister has kept a goal to take the country among top 10 in the world in the next 10 years. We have bid for the Olympics in 2036. In 2047 we will celebrate 100 years of our independence and PM Modi has set a goal to be among top 5 sporting nations of the world by then," Mandaviya said during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships here on Sunday. "To create an ecosystem in sports, to make the country progress in sports, we created a scheme, the Target Podium Olympic Scheme and through this scheme the elite athletes of the country are getting best exposure and support so that they play their sport well
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said that the National Sports Governance Bill, which will be tabled in the Parliament during next week's monsoon session, has been drafted with inputs from not just the stakeholders here but also international bodies like the IOC and FIFA. Addressing the one-day 'Khelo Bharat Conclave', featuring representatives from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), National Sports Federations (NSFs), the corporate world and athletes, the minister reiterated his commitment to have the bill passed for which he has even held discussions with former sports minister and Congress leader Ajay Maken. The monsoon session of the Parliament will start on July 21. "I did a series of consultations with NSFs, athletes, coaches, also got 600 inputs from the public when the draft was put online for suggestions. I also had a three-hour meeting with sports lawyers to understand their perspective," Mandaviya stated in his address. "The IOC (International Olympic ...
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said the long-awaited National Sports Governance Bill will be tabled in Parliament during the monsoon session beginning July 21. The minister, while speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event to launch department of youth affairs' initiatives against drug addiction, also reiterated the government's position that Pakistani athletes will not be stopped from coming to India for multi-lateral sporting engagements. "The bill will be tabled in the Parliament during the upcoming session. I will give more details in a couple of days," Mandaviya said. The bill seeks to ensure greater accountability for the country's sports administrators with the provision of a regulatory board which would have the power to grant recognition and decide funding to National Sports Federations (NSFs) based on their adherence to provisions related to good governance. The board will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with the highest governance, ...
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday reiterated the government's commitment to promote inclusive sports development, especially in remote areas, as he inaugurated a multi-purpose Hall in Kamle district of Arunachal Pradesh The hall, built at a cost of Rs eight crore, is funded by the Central government and will provide infrastructure and training facilities to promote grassroots-level sports in the region. Equipped with modern amenities, the hall will cater to multiple indoor sports including boxing, badminton, judo, wushu, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, table tennis, and volleyball, enabling young athletes from the region to train professionally and compete at national and international levels. "Arunachal Pradesh has immense potential, and through facilities like these, we aim to create opportunities for youth to shine in sports and contribute to nation-building," Mandaviya was quoted as saying in a release. Mandaviya also interacted with local youth and sportspersons,
The BJP on Saturday appointed Union ministers Mansukh Mandaviya as party's election in-charge and Arjun Ram Meghwal as co-incharge for Puducherry Assembly polls due next year. The term of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly expires on June 15 next year. The All India N.R. Congress alliance, of which BJP is part, currently governs the Union Territory. "BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has appointed Mansukh Mandaviya, Union minister, as election in-charge, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union minister, as co-incharge for the forthcoming assembly elections in Puducherry," party's national general secretary Arun Singh said notifying the appointments. These appointments take effect immediately, he added.
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is not just the Prime Minister's dream, it is the shared duty of 140 crore Indians. Addressing the 2nd graduation ceremony of ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Faridabad, the minister highlighted the central role doctors will play in this transformation, saying that every consultation and every life saved contributes to national productivity and progress, according to a labour ministry statement. A total of 447 students graduated on Friday. Mandaviya urged the new doctors to serve in rural and underserved areas, understand ground realities, and ensure healthcare remains accessible, affordable, and ethical. He also underscored that a healthy citizen is the foundation of a healthy society, and hence, a healthy nation. In this context, he said doctors are the torchbearers of the Fit India Movement, playing a critical role in promoting wellness, preventive care, and healthy habits among the ...
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Thursday that the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will soon launch the "EPFO 3.0 version," which will allow subscribers to withdraw funds from ATMs, along with several other new features. Speaking after inaugurating EPFO's Office Complex of Telangana Zonal Office and Regional Office here this evening, he said the 'EPFO 3.0 version' will be equivalent to the banking system. "In the coming days, EPFO 3.0 version will come. This means EPFO will become equivalent to a bank. Like how transactions are carried out in a bank, you (EPFO subscribers) have your Universal Account Number (UAN) and you will be able to do all your work," he said. "Neither do you to have visit EPFO offices nor do you have to go to employer. It is your money and you can withdraw it as and when you want. Now you still need to go to EPFO offices. I promise you, in the coming days, you can withdraw your money from ATMs whenever you want. We are carrying
Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a two-day meeting with his state-level counterparts, senior administrators, and key government officials here to "exchange ideas and craft a roadmap" for India's Olympic preparations. The March 7-8 gathering will be held at Kanha Shanti Vanam in the city. India is eyeing a double digit medal haul at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and is also bidding to host the 2036 Olympics for which a letter of intent has been sent to the International Olympic Committee. "The deliberations will focus on enhancing sports governance, grassroots talent identification, infrastructure development, inclusivity, and fostering collaborations," the sports ministry stated in a press release. Key focus areas of the brainstorming session will be an overview of various government schemes and co-ordination with states on the subject. Sports infrastructure development partnership with corporates, talent search, and promotion of good governance will also come ...
Social security remains a fundamental pillar of India's commitment to social justice, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said, noting that its coverage increased to 48.8 per cent of the total population in 2024 from 24.4 per cent in 2021. Addressing the inaugural session of the Regional Dialogue on Social Justice 2025, Mandaviya said, "The unemployment rate has declined from 6 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24, while the Labour Force Participation Rate has increased from 49.8 per cent to 60.1 per cent". These positive indicators underscore the impact of our reforms and initiatives. Labour reforms have been a foundation of India's efforts to modernise its workforce policies, he added. The consolidation of 29 labour laws into four simplified Labour Codes has promoted labour welfare, universalised wages and social security, and ensured safer working conditions, he pointed out. These reforms have also improved the ease of doing business by streamlining ...
Praising the Union budget, Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said that the budget aims to make a healthy economy by setting a proper roadmap with a long-term vision. He said that time has changed in the last 10 years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over. "The prime minister has a vision of a developed India by 2047. With a long-term vision, the PM has also laid out his roadmap step by step in every budget," the minister said at a press conference at the party office on Sunday. "Our budget aims to build a healthy economy. Each budget for the last ten years is taking the country a step forward," he said. The minister highlighted various budget announcements and said that all the sectors have been taken care of in the budget. "The budget also prioritised infrastructure development and a proper roadmap has been laid out in the budget. The priority was also given to the health sector with a vision to include more poor people under the Ayushmann Yojana," he said.