Lok Sabha Question No. 2714 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Khelo India Policy-2025
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Kashyap

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 2714 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

Khelo India Policy - 2025

## † 2714.     SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

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

- (a) the special provisions made under the Khelo India Polic-2025 for sports  infrastructure,  coaches  and  talent  identification  for  hilly States like Himachal Pradesh and Shimla Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) the number of district-level sports centres, sportspersons to be identified and coaches to be trained in Himachal Pradesh during the
- current year and the next three years; and
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  establish  an  altitude-training/ winter sports centre in Shimla region in preparations for the 2036
- Olympics and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (c)  :  The  Khelo  Bharat  Niti  2025  aims  at  building  a  strong, inclusive  and  performance-driven  sports  ecosystem  in  India.  The vision of the Niti is "Sports for Nation Building Harness the Power of Sports  for  Nation's  Holistic  Development'.  It  includes  provisions aimed at strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure and supporting early talent identification across  the country,  including the  hilly  States  like  Himachal  Pradesh  and  Shimla  Lok  Sabha Constituency, with a focus on widening access to sporting opportunities.  The  policy  focuses  on  improved  access  to  basic

training facilities, dedicated sports infrastructure, and competition platforms  for  athletes  from  diverse  sections  of  society,  including women, persons with disabilities, and economically weaker groups. 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports,  including  development  of  sports  and  infrastructure  in  the hilly  areas  of  the  country,  rests  with  the  State  /  Union  Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements these efforts, in alignment  with  the  National  Sports  Policy,  through  its  ongoing schemes and programmes, which operates within defined guidelines and reporting frameworks.

However, under the Khelo India Scheme, a total of 18 Khelo India Centres  (KICs)  have  been  notified  across  12  districts  in  Himachal Pradesh  where  a  total  of  280  athletes  are  being  trained  by  Past Champion  Athletes  (PCAs).  Specific  district-wise  targets  for  the next  three  years  are  subject  to  the  finalized  revised  scheme  and proposals received from the State Governments.

Further, u nder the 'Creation and Up -gradation of Sports Infrastructure'  component  of  the  Khelo  India  Scheme  (KIS)  and National Sports Development Funds (NSDF), financial assistance is provided for development of sports infrastructure across the country. The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved and  their  sanctioned  cost,  funds  released  and  their  physical  and financial progress, under the KIS and NSDF are available in public domain on the dashboards of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdfglance.html, respectively. 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility  of  development  of  sports,  including  strengthening  of sports  infrastructure,  training  academies  and  talent  identification, rests  primarily  with  the  State/Union  Territory  Governments.  The Union  Government  supplements  their  efforts  by  bridging  critical gaps. The schemes of this Ministry are demand-driven under which financial  assistance  is  considered  for  proposals  received  from State/UT Governments and eligible entities based on clear criteria, including the completeness of the proposal, its technical feasibility, and the availability of funds.

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