Lok Sabha Question No. 49 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Establishment of SAI Centre in Maharashtra
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant

## Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 49 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

Establishment of SAI Centre in Maharashtra

49.    Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the plan of the Government to promote sports in the country; (b) whether the Government contemplates to promote sports especially in the rural and backward areas and if so, the details thereof; (c)    the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide equal opportunities to all talented youths in the sports; (d) the  scheme of the Government for establishing a SAI centre in Maharashtra; (e)    whether the Government is formulating any plan to establish such sports training centres with the assistance of Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) Model or the State Governments and if so, the details thereof; (f)    whether the Government has organised any event in Maharashtra under the "Khelo India" and "Fit India Movement"; and (g) if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## ANSWER [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]

(a) to (c):  'Sports' being a State subject, the primary responsibility for development  and  promotion  of  sports  rests  with  the  respective State/UT  Governments.  The  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs &  Sports, Department of Sports, through the following Schemes and initiatives, supplements the efforts of the State/UT Governments for development and promotion of sports:

- (i) Khelo India Scheme;
- (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations;
- (iii) Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches;
- (iv)
- (v)
- National Sports Awards,
- Pension to Meritorious Sports Persons;
- (vi) Pandit  Deendayal  Upadhyay  National  Welfare  Program  for Sportspersons;
- (vii)
- National Sports Development Fund; and
- (viii) Running  Sports  training  centres  through  Sports  Authority  of India (SAI).

Details of these Schemes are in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and SAI.

Further,  through  'Khelo  Bharat  Niti  2025',  the  Government  aims  at reshaping the country's sporting  landscape  and  empowering  citizens through sports. This policy supersedes National Sports Policy, 2001, and lays out a visionary and strategic roadmap to establish India as a global sporting powerhouse  and  a  strong contender for excellence at international sporting events, including 2036 Olympic Games.

Government  has  taken  steps  from  time  to  time  to  promote  sports especially in the rural and backward areas and also to provide equal opportunities to all talented youths by taking steps to provide financial assistance and support for various disciplines and also, for local and indigenous  sports  like  Kho  Kho,  Silambam,  Kabaddi,  Mallakhamb,

Kalaripayyattu,  Gatka,  Thang-Ta  and  Yogasana,  through  Khelo  India Programme  to  promote  national  integration,  peace  and  harmony through sports.

Government has through Khelo India Scheme made efforts to provide equal opportunity in sports by taking the following steps:-

1.  Setting  up  of  Khelo  India  Centres:  A  number  of  1057  Khelo  India Centres  (KICs)  have  been  notified  at  the  district  level  across  the country. The Centers offer training in various sports, from athletics and wrestling to kabaddi and archery, which are popular in rural communities.  These  Centers  cater  to  local  talents  through  quality coaching, improving skills and preparation for higher levels of competition.
2.  Setting  up  of  Khelo  India  State  Centre  of  Excellences  (KISCE): Support is given to State facilities for filling critical gaps in equipment, providing  high  quality  coaching,  sports  science  manpower,  all  in  an effort  to  nurture  and  support  the  children  from  across  each  State. Currently, 34 KISCEs have been notified in 33 States/UTs.
3. Through Khelo India Talent Identification and Development component at present 2808 athletes in 21 sports disciplines (including para sports) are being supported. A total of 306 academies have been accredited for the training of the Khelo India athletes (KIAs).
4. Through organization of Khelo India Games: 19 Editions of Khelo India Games have been conducted so far, which see wide participation of youth from different parts of the country.

In addition to the above, SAI centres have been set up in the Rural / Backward areas of the Country which is as per the list below:

| Region   | Centre Name(s)   | State            | Rural/ Other backward areas   |
|----------|------------------|------------------|-------------------------------|
| Zirakpur | Bilaspur         | Himachal Pradesh | Rural                         |
| Zirakpur | Badal            | Punjab           | Rural                         |
| Zirakpur | Mastunasahib     | Punjab           | Rural                         |
| Zirakpur | Solalgaon        | Assam            | Rural                         |

| Imphal        | Utlou                           | Manipur           | Rural    |
|---------------|---------------------------------|-------------------|----------|
| Kolkata       | Port Blair                      | Andaman & Nicobar | Rural    |
|               | Hazaribagh                      | Jharkhand         | Rural    |
|               | Sundargarh                      | Odisha            | Rural    |
|               | Lebong                          | West Bengal       | Rural    |
| LucknowSaifai | LucknowSaifai                   | Uttar Pradesh     | Rural    |
| LNCPE         | Mayiladuthurai                  | Tamil Nadu        | Rural    |
| Kolkata       | Gurukul Ashram, Amsena, Nuapada | Odisha            | Backward |

- (d):    Under the Sports Promotional Schemes of SAI the details of SAI Centres in the State of Maharashtra are provided at Annexure.

At present SAI has undertaken an exercise of restructuring its Sports Promotional  Schemes.  Given  the  existing  sports  infrastructure  and financial considerations, the emphasis is currently on strengthening the capacity of the existing centres to further achieve excellence in sports.

- (e):  At present, No such proposal is under consideration in SAI.
- (f)  to  (g):  Following  events  have  been  organized  in  the  State  of Maharashtra under Khelo India Scheme:

Khelo  India  Youth  Games  (KIYG)  2019:  KIYG  2019  were  hosted  in Maharashtra from 9th to 20th January, 2019 and saw a participation of more than 3000 athletes.  Maharashtra  emerged  as  overall  champion with massive participation across 18 sports disciplines with 227 Medals (85 Gold, 61 Silver, 81Bronze).

Promotion of Sports among Women: Khelo India Women League was started  in  2021  to  offer  opportunities  to  women  for  participating  & excelling in sporting activities. A total of 54 ASMITA women's leagues with a participation of 8,132 women athletes have been organized in the State of Maharashtra.

FIT  INDIA  Sundays  on  Cycle:  Launched  on  17 th   December  2024  to promote cycling as a means of staying fit and healthy. The campaign organizes events every Sunday.

*****

ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  49  FOR  21.07.2025  ASKED  BY  SHRI ARVIND  GANPAT  SAWANT  REGARDING  'ESTABLISHMENT  OF  SAI CENTRE IN MAHARASHTRA'.

Details of SAI schemes in the State of Maharashtra

NATIONAL CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE (NCOES)

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| SN   | Region/ Centre Name   | Disciplines    | Resi.   | Resi.   | Resi.   | Non-Resi.   | Non-Resi.   | Non-Resi.   |
|------|-----------------------|----------------|---------|---------|---------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
|      |                       |                | B       | G       | T       | B           | G           | T           |
| 1    | Kandivali             | Hockey         | 0       | 34      | 34      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Wrestling      | 30      | 14      | 44      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | TOTAL:         | 30      | 48      | 78      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
| 2    | Aurangabad            | Archery        | 19      | 06      | 25      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Archery (Para) | 04      | 01      | 05      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Boxing         | 13      | 14      | 27      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Fencing        | 15      | 20      | 35      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Fencing (Para) | 06      | 02      | 08      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Gymnastics     | 04      | 11      | 15      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Hockey         | 31      | 0       | 31      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | Weightlifting  | 20      | 15      | 35      | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | TOTAL:         | 112     | 69      | 181     | 0           | 0           | 0           |
|      |                       | G.TOTAL:       | 142     | 117     | 259     | 0           | 0           | 0           |

## INDIGENOUS GAMES AND MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS (IGMA)

|   S.No. | Centre Name                                      | Discipline   | (Non-        |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|
|       1 | Dharamaveer Sambhaji Hr. Sec. School, Aurangabad | Malkhamb     | Operational) |

## ADOPTED AKHARAS

| 1   | Govt. Wrestling Centre, Kohlapur                       | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   30 |   00 |   30 |
|-----|--------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----|-----|-----|------|------|------|
| 2   | Gulsachi Talim Akhara, Pune                            | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   28 |   02 |   30 |
| 3   | Har Har Mahadev, Maroti Nagar, Dhule                   | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   27 |   03 |   30 |
| 4   | Jai Shiv Ray Education Society, Kolhapur               | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   09 |   21 |   30 |
| 5   | Jog Maharaj Vyayamshala, Pune.                         | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   00 |   30 |   30 |
| 6   | Kishanveer Akhara, Bhuij, Satara                       | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   30 |   00 |   30 |
| 7   | Krida Vikas Vyayammandal, Sangli                       | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   24 |   06 |   30 |
| 8   | MN Deshmukh Arts Science College, Ahemadnagar          | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   26 |   04 |   30 |
| 9   | Kolhapur Zilla RashtriyaTalim Kendra, Kohlapur         | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   30 |   00 |   30 |
| 10  | N. L. Balkwade Vyamshala, 102 Tilakpath, Nasik         | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   30 |   00 |   30 |
| 11  | Rangnath Markad Krida & Yuvak Mandal, Pune             | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   27 |   03 |   30 |
| 12  | Veer Hanuman Kala Krida, Sangli                        | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   30 |   00 |   30 |
| 13  | Vishwatmak Jangli Maharaj Wrestling Centre,Ahamadnagar | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |   30 |   00 |   30 |
| 14  | Mamasaheb Mohol Kusti Akhara, Katraj, Pune             | Wrestling   |   0 |   0 |   0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |
|     |                                                        | TOTAL:      |   0 |   0 |   0 |  321 |   69 |  390 |