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At least 155 million Indian adults and 45 million adolescents fail to meet WHO physical activity guidelines, highlighting a nationwide inactivity crisis.

Adults who engage in physical activity mostly walk, while only 10% play sports. Adolescents are more active, but half of the boys play only cricket.

Women and girls spend 5-7 fewer hours weekly on sports and physical activity than males, with urban girls facing a significantly higher risk of inactivity.

Urban women spend 385 fewer active minutes per week than rural women and face 20% reduced access to public spaces due to safety concerns and infrastructure gaps.

If inactivity continues, India faces 200 million more NCD cases, 45 million obese adolescents, and ₹55 trillion in healthcare costs by 2047, threatening national progress.

Increased physical activity could boost India’s GDP by ₹15 trillion annually by 2047, preventing ₹2.5 trillion in productivity losses from illness-related absenteeism.

By 2047, sports and physical activity can prevent 110 million NCD cases, reduce suicides by 30,000, and save ₹30 trillion in healthcare costs, lowering disease burden.

Sports engagement could encourage 11 million girls to take up a sport by 2047, fostering confidence, agency, and potentially 600,000 new female entrepreneurs.

With a focus on SAPA, India could mobilise ₹4.5 trillion in sports industry expenditure, improving its potential to host major events like the Olympics.

Collaboration between government, private sectors, and communities is crucial to create policy, infrastructure, and programs that encourage physical activity nationwide.

Innovative public spaces, schools that prioritise activity, and gender-inclusive programs can foster a national shift towards embracing sports and physical activity.