Lok Sabha Question No. 3730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Sports Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Robert Bruce C

## Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

Sports Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu

3730. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:

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

(a) whether the Government has identified districts in Tamil Nadu for the development  of  rural  and  district-level  sports  facilities  especially  in Tirunelveli  Lok  Sabha  Constituency,  under  the  Khelo  India  or  Sports Infrastructure Development schemes;

(b) the criteria adopted for selecting of such districts and the details of funds  allocated  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year, district/UT-wise;

- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  additional  sports training  centres  or  academies  in  Tamil  Nadu  to  promote  athletics  and indigenous games;

(d)  whether  the  Government,  in  coordination  with  the  Ministry of Education and national bodies such as National Council of Educational Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  and  University  Grants  Commission (UGC),  proposes  to  integrate  structured  physical  education  and  sports science  modules  into  school  and  university  curricula,  particularly  to enhance sports participation and awareness in rural areas; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ]

(a) to (c) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development

of sports, including identification of districts for the development of rural and  district-level  sports  facilities,  establishment  of  additional  sports training  centres  or  academies  to  promote  athletics  and  indigenous games, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments. The Union  Government  only  supplements  their  efforts  by  bridging  critical gaps. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports implements the following schemes for development of sports in the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu:

- i. Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports;
2. ii.
3. Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs);
- iii. Cash Incentives to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their coaches;
5. iv.
6. v.
7. National Sports Awards;
8. Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons;
- vi. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons;
10. vii.
11. National Sports Development Fund;
12. Running  Sports  Training  centres  through  Sports  Authority  of
- viii. India (SAI); and
14. ix.
15. National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).

Details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.

The Khelo India Scheme and National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), implemented  by  this  Ministry,  under  which  financial  assistance  for development  of  sports  infrastructure  is  provided  are  demand-driven schemes.  The  proposals  received  from  the  State/  UT  Government  and other  eligible  entities,  are  considered  for  financial  support,  subject  to their completeness, technical feasibility and availability of funds under the scheme.

The  details  of  the  sports  infrastructure  projects  approved  under  the Khelo India Scheme and NSDF, across the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu, are available in the public domain on the dashboards of and the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in. http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html.

Funds  are  allocated  Scheme-wise  and  not  district/UT-wise  under  the Khelo India Scheme in this Ministry. The details of funds allocated under

Khelo  India  Scheme,  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year across the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu, are as under:

(₹ in crore)

| Financial Year   |   Funds allocated |
|------------------|-------------------|
| 2025-26          |            700    |
| 2024-25          |            746.54 |
| 2023-24          |            880    |
| 2022-23          |            600    |

(d) and (e) The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education,  is  implementing  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020, which promotes sports and physical education as an integral part of the curriculum for holistic development. To operationalize NEP, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) has been introduced, and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed dedicated Physical Education textbooks integrating sports,  fitness,  yoga  and  healthy  lifestyles  into  school education.

Further,  under  the  Samagra  Shiksha  scheme  and  the  Central  Board  of Secondary Education (CBSE) Health and Physical Education programme, sports  and  physical  activities  have  been  made  compulsory  in  schools. These  initiatives  aim  to  enhance  sports  participation  and  awareness among students across the country, including in rural areas.

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