Lok Sabha Question No. 662 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Sports Education in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. GOPAL, MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI, RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 662 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2017

## Sports Education in Schools

## 662. DR. K. GOPAL: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it is a fact that the Government is considering to make sports compulsory in schools and if so, the details thereof ;
- (b)  the details of various schemes implemented by the Ministry along with such schemes which are helpful in making sports interesting for the students;
- (c)  whether it is a fact that the proposal for construction of swimming pools has been postponed and it is now to be completed in the next financial year and if so, the details thereof ; and
- (d)  whether the Government is also considering to provide concessions to students in academic performance on account of achievements in sports and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (d):  The Government is in the process of formulating a New Education Policy (NEP), for which it carried out consultations on the identified 33 themes.  One of the themes under School Education is ' Comprehensive Education - Ethics, Physical Education, Arts & Crafts, Life Skills '. Based on the Report of the Committee on Evolution of New Education Policy  and suggestions  of various  consultations  with  stakeholders  'Some  Inputs  for  the  Draft  National  Education  Policy, 2016' was formulated, wherein it has been stated that physical education, yoga, games and sports, NCC, NSS, art education, Bal Sansad, covering local art, craft, literature and skills, and other coscholastic activities will be made an integral part of the curriculum and daily routine in schools for the  holistic  development  of  children.  Suggestions  were  invited  on  'Some  Inputs  for  the  Draft National  Education  Policy,  2016'upto  30 th September,  2016.  A  Committee  under  an  eminent educationist will be appointed to prepare final draft NEP.

As per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005, Health and Physical Education, which includes  sports,  is  a  compulsory  subject  from  classes  I  to  X  and  an  optional  subject  at  the higher  secondary  stage.    National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  has developed syllabi on Health and Physical Education, which outlines class-wise games and sports for students.  Under  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA),  annual  grant  is  provided  to  government  and government  aided  schools  for  replacement  of  non-functional  school  equipment  and  for  other recurring  costs  such  as  consumables,  play  material,  games  and  sports  equipment  etc.  Under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), school grant of Rs.50,000/- is provided annually to Government Secondary Schools as part of recurring grant for various activities, including purchase of  sports  equipment  and  other  sports  related  activities,  based  on  viable  proposals  received  from States and Union Territories. In addition, Rs.20,000/- per school (for a maximum of 100 schools per State/UT) is also provided to Government Secondary Schools under RMSA for purchase of sports equipment.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) makes it obligatory for its affiliated schools to have adequate infrastructure for sports. CBSE has also advised its affiliated schools to allocate 40-45 minutes of physical activities and games for students of Classes I to X every day, and at least two periods per week (90 to 120 minutes) for students of Classes XI to XII. Education being a subject in the Concurrent List and most of the schools being under the purview of the State/Union Territory Governments, it is for the States/UTs to take necessary action in this regard.

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