The Rajasthan Cabinet on October 19, 2025 approved the Maharana Pratap Sports University Bill, paving the way for the establishment of Rajasthan's first dedicated sports university. The university is to be located at Acharol in Jaipur district, and its establishment represents a significant step in integrating sports education with higher education in the state.
The proposed university is named after Maharana Pratap, the legendary Rajput warrior king of Mewar who is revered as a symbol of courage, independence, and resistance. Naming a sports institution after him aligns with Rajasthan's cultural identity and the values of athletic excellence.
The university will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in sports science, physical education, sports management, sports journalism, coaching sciences, and allied disciplines. It aims to create a structured academic pathway for athletes, coaches, sports administrators, and physical education professionals in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan has historically produced athletes of national and international repute in disciplines such as wrestling, kabaddi, shooting, and athletics. However, the absence of a dedicated sports university had been a gap in the state's sports ecosystem. The new institution will also focus on research in sports science, sports medicine, anti-doping, and high-performance training methodologies.
The university at Acharol, Jaipur is expected to have modern infrastructure including synthetic athletic tracks, indoor sports halls, a swimming pool, shooting range, gymnasium, and residential facilities for athletes. The Assembly record lists the Bill as passed on March 10, 2026.
The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on sports and physical education as integral components of holistic education, and with the state government's goals to promote sports culture, talent identification, and elite athlete development in Rajasthan.