Lok Sabha Question No. 2696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Promotion of Traditional and Indigenous Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Tejasvi Surya

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2696 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

Promotion of Traditional and Indigenous Sports

2696. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  or  formulated  any policy for the preservation, promotion and development of traditional and indigenous sports in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, including the number of athletes trained and supported,  the  infrastructure  created,  financial  assistance  provided  to athletes  and  coaches,  total  funds  allocated  and  utilised  and  coaching facilities provided for traditional sports, sport and State/UT-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  promote  awareness  and popularise  traditional  and  indigenous  Indian  sports  at  the  global  level and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  further  expand  initiatives  for the  promotion  of  traditional  sports  and  if  so, the  details thereof, including the proposed timeline, projected outlay and the steps planned in this regard?

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

(a) to (d) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including policy for the preservation, promotion and development of traditional and indigenous sports, creation of infrastructure,  providing  financial  assistance  to  athletes  and  coaches, promoting awareness and popularising traditional and indigenous Indian sports at the global level, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory

Governments.  The  Union  Government  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:

- i. Khelo India -National Programme for Development of Sports;
- ii. Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs);
- iii. Cash  Incentives  to  Medal  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;
- viii. Running  Sports  Training  centres  through  Sports  Authority  of India (SAI); and
- ix. 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.

In addition to above, the 'Promotion of traditional and indigenous sports' sub-component of the Khelo India Scheme, is specifically dedicated to the  development  and  promotion  of  traditional  and  indigenous  sports across  the  country.  Indigenous  sports  like  Mallakhamb,  Kalaripayattu, Gatka,  Thang-Ta,  Yogasana  and  Silambam  have  been  identified  for promotion  under  this  component  and  were  made  part  of  Khelo  India Games.

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