Laws to wins: How India turned into a global force, Pg19

Key Highlights:

• Shooting sports in India have seen a surge in popularity, with national championship participation rising from 8,011 in 2019 to 16,951 in 2024.
• Women's participation in shooting is increasing significantly year-on-year, although men still constitute the majority of shooters.
• Air pistol events have seen a rise of nearly 111% in participation, while air rifle events have almost doubled in the same period.
• Policy changes, including the liberalization of import laws for air weapons and firearms, have contributed to the growth of shooting sports.

Detailed Insights:

• The increase in popularity of shooting sports can be attributed to easier access, lower costs, and relatively simple licensing norms, especially for air rifle and air pistol events.
• India's success in shooting at the Olympics from 2004 to 2012, with medals won by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, and Vijay Kumar, inspired a new generation of shooters.
• Schools and colleges began giving extra marks to state-level competitors, encouraging parents to support their children's participation in shooting.
• The liberalization of import laws for air weapons in 2007 and firearms in 2012, along with the reduction of the age limit for handling weapons from 16 to 12 in 2016, made it easier for shooters to acquire equipment.
• Before 2012, obtaining an import permit for firearms was a lengthy and complicated process, often taking nearly a year, but policy changes streamlined the process.
• The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) played a crucial role in advocating for policy changes and promoting shooting as a way to improve focus and concentration.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Liberalization: The process of reducing restrictions on trade, investment, and other economic activities.
• Import Permit: A document required by a government to authorize the importation of certain goods.
• Marksmanship: The skill of accurately shooting at a target.