Lok Sabha Question No. 2064 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Promotion of Sports at Grassroots  Level
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2064

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2023

Promotion of Sports at Grassroots Level

2064.   DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

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

- (a) the details of initiatives being taken by the Government to promote sports  at  the  grassroots  level  and  identify  and  nurture  young  talent across various disciplines;
- (b) the details of the progress made in enhancing sports infrastructure and facilities in rural and remote areas;
- (c) the manner in which the ministry is supporting the development of sports  science  and  sports  medicine  to  improve  the  performance  of Indian athletes at national and international levels; and
- (d) whether there  is  any  fund  allocation  and  utilisation  for  the  same and if so, the details thereof as on date?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

(a) & (b): 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development  and  encouragement  of  sports  rests  primarily  with  the State/Union Territory Governments. The Central Government only supplements their efforts. However, this Ministry runs various schemes for the promotion of sports across the country. These schemes include: (i)  Khelo  India  Scheme;  (ii)  Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations (NSFs); (iii) Special Awards to winners in International sports events and their  coaches;  (iv)  National  Sports  Awards,  Pension  to  Meritorious

Sportspersons; (v) National Sports Development Fund; (vi) Sports Training centres run through Sports Authority of India (SAI). The Details of these schemes are available in the public domain on the website of the Ministry.

Further, the  Government  has  launched  the  revamped  Khelo  India Scheme with a mandate for identification of talent from the grass-roots level  and  nurturing  them  to  attain  highest  levels  of  achievement  at international levels. Under the vertical of 'Talent Search and Development', which is being implemented by SAI, athletes are selected from pan-India covering tribal, rural and backward areas of the country in 21 sports disciplines. So far, 2510 athletes have been identified under the Scheme.

As regards sports infrastructure, under the component 'Creation and Upgradation of Sports Infrastructure' of the Scheme, 297 sports infrastructure projects have been sanctioned across the country, including in the rural areas, to promote sports at the grass-roots level.

(c) & (d): The National Centre of Sports Science and Research (NCSSR) scheme, being implemented by the Ministry of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports, Government of India, aims to support high-level research education and innovation  in  respect  of  high  performance  of  elite  athletes.  The  said Scheme is implemented through SAI, and select universities/institutes/medical  colleges  in  the  country.  The  details  of fund allocated under the Scheme are as follows:-

(₹ in Crore)

|   S.No. | Financial Year      |   Allocated Budget |   Funds Released |
|---------|---------------------|--------------------|------------------|
|       1 | 2021-22             |                  7 |             6.98 |
|       2 | 2022-23             |                  7 |             6.98 |
|       3 | 2023-24 (till date) |                 13 |             0.66 |

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