Overview

• The Cabinet approved Khelo Bharat Niti on July 1, ending the passport-only rule and inviting Indian-origin athletes abroad to represent the country.
• AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey described the policy shift as a ray of hope for enhancing the national football team’s competitiveness.
• Since August 2023, a specialized task force has identified and contacted 33 OCI cardholders as potential national team recruits.
• Under FIFA statutes, players must hold a national passport on match day, and AIFF is collaborating with FIFA and government bodies to clarify how OCI status fits within India’s citizenship laws.
• The policy mirrors strategies used by countries like Vietnam and Singapore and dovetails with AIFF’s long-term framework nurturing players from under-10 levels through to the professional ranks.