Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Education Ministry Sign UNESCO MoU for Clean Sport Education
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Education signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCO to integrate clean sport values into classrooms across India through the 'Sports Values in Every Classroom Toolkit'. The initiative, exchanged at NADA India's Clean Sport Conclave, aims to embed values of respect, integrity, and fairness in children through education and sports activities. The toolkit's video modules will be available in 13 Indian languages to reach students nationwide and build a fairer sporting ecosystem.
Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized that sporting excellence and integrity must go hand in hand, highlighting India's 4th place finishes at both the Asian Games and Asian Para Games as evidence of growing sporting ambition. However, doping remains a serious concern requiring sustained efforts in education, prevention, testing, and enforcement. During 2025–26, the National Anti-Doping Agency of India conducted over 7,000 tests and more than 350 education and awareness sessions reaching 27,000 participants. Supplement testing facilities at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad help prevent cases of inadvertent doping.
The government is strengthening investigations within NADA in line with global practices and has brought the National Anti-Doping Act into force this year. Provisions for the criminalization of doping-related activities are being prepared for parliamentary consideration. Education Minister Pralhad Joshi noted the MoU addresses the longstanding gap between education and sports, emphasizing that students who perform well academically often don't participate in sports, and called for strengthened grassroots opportunities and better pathways for young athletes.
Dr. Tim Curtis, Director of UNESCO's Regional Office for South Asia, described the MoU as a new chapter in UNESCO's partnership with India, with potential to reach millions of young people and serve as a model for other countries. The toolkit focuses on bringing three fundamental values into education and sport: respect, integrity, and fairness, with teachers playing a crucial role in bringing these values to life in schoolyards and everyday situations.