The term "National Sports" in India is a concept that represents a widespread public misconception, as the country does not have any officially declared national sport. This fact was confirmed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query in 2020.
The belief that Field Hockey is the national sport originated from its "golden era" of dominance, where the Indian team won eight Olympic gold medals between 1928 and 1980. This success made hockey a powerful symbol of national pride in the pre- and post-independence eras.
The official mechanism is the government's deliberate policy choice, as stated by the MYAS, to not declare a single national sport. This approach aims to encourage and promote all popular sports disciplines equally, rather than prioritizing one.
The concept connects to the broader sports governance framework, including the National Sports Policy (NSP), first unveiled in 1984 and revised in 2001. It also links to the celebration of National Sports Day on August 29, which is the birthday of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. A recent change saw the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award renamed to the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Related concepts include the Khelo India scheme, which promotes grassroots sports development.