Lok Sabha Question No. 3842 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Encourage Sports Talents in Rural Areas
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3842 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

Encourage Sports Talents in Rural Areas

†3842 . Shri Rahul Kaswan:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  prepared  any  scheme  to  encourage  and train sports talents in rural areas;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  quantum  of  amount  spent  during  the last five years, State-wise, including Rajasthan;
- (c)  whether  the  maximum  number  of  players  who  have  made  a  name  in sports at national and international level are from Rajasthan and Haryana;
- (d) if so, the details thereof during the last five years, sports and rank-wise; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  intend  to  prepare  any  special  provision  and plan  to  encourage  sports  talents  in  rural  areas  of  the  country,  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS { DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA }

(a) and (b) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including preparing scheme to encourage and train sports talents in  rural  areas,  rests  primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements their efforts by bridging critical gaps. The  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports  (MYAS)  implements  the  following schemes for the development of sports across the country:

- (i) Khelo IndiaNational Programme  for Development of Sports; (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 Welfare Program for Sportspersons; (vii) National Sports Development  Fund;  and  (viii)  Running  Sports  Training  Centres  through Sports Authority of India.

Details  of  the  above  schemes  are  available  in  the  public  domain  on  the websites of this Ministry (https://yas.nic.in) and the Sports Authority of India (https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in).

Funds are allocated scheme-wise and not State-wise in this Ministry. The details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  expenditure  incurred  by  this  Ministry under various sports promotional schemes during the last five years across the country, including in the State of Rajasthan, are as under:

(in Rs. crore)

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Funds allocated |   Expenditure incurred |
|----------|------------------|-------------------|------------------------|
|        1 | 2019-20          |           2000    |                1989.39 |
|        2 | 2020-21          |           1313.4  |                1304.12 |
|        3 | 2021-22          |           1993    |                1748.76 |
|        4 | 2022-23          |           1907.69 |                1879.99 |
|        5 | 2023-24          |           2380.86 |                2329.35 |

(c) and (d) As the responsibility for registering athletes for participation in various national events lies with the respective State Sports Federations, and  the  responsibility  for  international  events  lies  with  the  concerned National Sports Federations, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports does not  maintain  data  on  State-wise  participation  of  athletes  in  national  and international sports events.

(e) Under the component, 'Sports Competition and Talent Development' of the Khelo India Scheme, talented sportspersons nationwide, are identified as a Khelo India Athlete (KIA). Selection of these athletes is based on their outstanding performance in events such as the Khelo India Games, National Championships, and through open and transparent selection trials organized by the relevant National Sports Federations and  the  School  Games Federation  of  India.  Selection  of  Khelo  India  Athletes  (KIAs)  is  done  on merit  through  set  protocols  by  the  Talent  Identification  Development Committee  (TIDC). Further,  Under  the  component  'Khelo  India  Centres  & Sports Academies' of Khelo India Scheme, the identified talents are given option  to  join  the  accredited  Khelo  India  academies  and  also  provided financial assistance of Rs. 6.28 Lakh per annum [including Rs 1.20 Lakh as Out  of  Pocket  Allowance  (OPA)]  towards  training  expenses,  coaching, competitions  exposure,  education,  equipment  support,  scientific  support etc.

*****