Lok Sabha Question No. 64 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: MoU to improve Performance of Sportspersons
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.64 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07-02-2023

MoU to Improve Performance of Sportspersons

- *64. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the relatively  low  and  scant  exposure  of  Indians  to  sports  at  the  elementary school level;
- (b) whether any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with  nations  that  excel  in  specific  sports  to  improve  the  performance  of sportspersons and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the Government  has  any  proposal to attract private investment for improvement of sports infrastructure in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 64 FOR ANSWER ON 07-02-2023 REGARDING MOU  TO  IMPROVE  PERFORMANCE  OF  SPORTSPERSONS  BY SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

- (a): Sports being a State Subject, the responsibility to develop sports and improve the exposure of our citizens to sports at all levels, including that of elementary school level, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory  (UT)  Governments.  The  Union  Government  supplements  their efforts  by  bridging  the  critical  gaps.  The  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  and Sports (MYAS) implements various schemes for the development of sports and providing benefits/facilities to the youth across the country, namely:
- (i) Khelo India Scheme; (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations; (iii) Special  Awards  to  Winners  in  International  Sports  Events  and  their Coaches; (iv) National Sports Awards; (v) Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons;  (vi)  Pandit  Deendayal  Upadhyay  National  Sports  Welfare Fund;  (vii)  National  Sports  Development  Fund  (NSDF);  and  (viii)  Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of India.

The details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (www.yas.nic.in/sports; www.sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in:).

- (b) Government has signed MoUs in the field of sports with different foreign countries with the objective of improving the performance of sportspersons and  exchange  of  knowledge  /  expertise.  At  present,  there  are  15  active MoUs with the various countries for sports development.
- (c) and (d): A number of initiatives have been taken by the Government to attract private investment for improvement of sports infrastructure in the country. Under the scheme 'National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)' of the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  and  Sports, contributions  are  invited  from corporate  entities,  both  public  and  private,  as  well  as  individuals,  which are  inter-alia  used  for  creation  /  development  /  upgradation  of  sports infrastructure in the country besides promotion of specific sports disciplines, training of athletes, provision of sports equipments,

national/international exposure, etc. In order to encourage private entities, for contributing to the NSDF, 100% exemption from income tax is available for all contributions to the NSDF.

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