Abstract
Basketball’s rapid growth in India has created new avenues for social justice and youth activism. This thematic research
paper synthesizes scholarship on Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) with Indian policy and practice to examine how
basketball-based programs advance gender equity, disability inclusion, education and employability, community cohesion, and
civic voice. Through an interpretive review and multiple Indian case vignettes (e.g., Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA, Hi5 Youth
Foundation, Dribble Academy Foundation, Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India, Mizoram Super League), the paper
identifies mechanisms of change (safe spaces, role modeling, team governance, codified fairness, and digital storytelling) and
key constraints (infrastructure gaps, safety and safeguarding, cultural norms, governance fragmentation, and funding
volatility). It proposes a rights-based design checklist and a monitoring–evaluation framework tailored to the Indian context.
The analysis suggests that basketball can catalyze durable social change when programs embed gender-transformative
practice, universal design, youth leadership, and community accountability and align with national policy instruments such as
Khelo India and para-sport strategies.
Key words: Basketball; India; Social Justice; Activism; Gender Equity; Disability Inclusion; Youth Development; Sport For
Development And Peace.
Author Name:-Atul Mishra