Lok Sabha Question No. 286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Promotion of Water Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge, Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai, Shri Gyaneshwar Patil

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

Promotion of Water Sports

† 286. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:

DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:

SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

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

- (a) the details of the efforts being made by the Government to promote water sports like rowing, canoeing, sailing, kayaking and swimming in the country;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  infrastructure  development  programmes  in  the country  specifically  for  water  sports,  including  the  establishment  of water  sports  centres,  equipment  distribution,  and  training  facilities, particularly in the States of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and
- (c)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  planning  to  bring  water sports to a level comparable to the popular sports like cricket in terms of media popularity, sponsors and public participation, State/UT-wise?

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

(a) to (c) For promotion of water sports in the country, the Ministry has recognized the following National Sports Federations (NSFs), which are mandated,  inter  alia,  to  organize  national  championships,  conduct international sports events in India and their State level affiliated units being responsible for organizing sports competitions at State level, so as to promote the culture of competitive sports:

- (i) Yachting Association of India (YAI)
- (ii) Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA)
- (iii) Swimming Federation of India (SFI)
- (iv) Rowing Federation of India (RFI)
- (v) Surfing Federation of India

Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federation (ANSF) this  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  recognized  National Sports Federations (NSFs) through Sports Authority of India (SAI) which is the Central Nodal Agency (CNA), for support for training of athletes, national India, engagement  of  foreign  coaches/support  staff,  scientific  &  medical participation in international events, conduct of championships, conduct of international tournaments in support etc.

'Sports',  being  a  state  subject,  the  responsibility  for  development  of sports infrastructure for various sports including that for water sports rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments, while the Central Government supplements their efforts. Under the Khelo India Scheme, 17 projects pertaining to Swimming  Pools have been sanctioned across the country. The details of infrastructure development programmes, under Khelo India Scheme and SAI, in the country for water sports are attached as Annexure-I.

This Ministry through SAI has established National Centres of Excellence (NCOE), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Extension Centre of STCs across the country to identify talented sportspersons at grassroot levels in various age groups and nurture them to excel at national and international levels. The list of NCOE, STCs, Extension Centre of STCs for water sports across the country are attached as Annexure-II.

*****

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK SABHA  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  286  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON 02.02.2026 REGARDING 'PROMOTION OF WATER SPORTS' ASKED BY SHRI  GYANESHWAR  PATIL,  DR.  SHIVAJI  BANDAPPA  KALGE,  SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI AND SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE.

## i. Infrastructure Project sanctioned under Khelo India Scheme for water sports

|   S. No. | State/UT       | Name of the project                                                                                                        |
|----------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh | Construction of swimming pool with water purifier at Adikavi Nannayya University, Rajamahendravaram,District East Godavari |
|        2 | Bihar          | Construction of Swimming Pool at Saidpur Campus, Patna University, District Patna                                          |
|        3 | Bihar          | Construction of Swimming Pool at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour Campus, District Bhagalpur                          |
|        4 | Bihar          | Construction Of Khelo India Olympic Size Swimming Pool at IIT Patna Bihta Campus, Patna                                    |
|        5 | Gujarat        | Construction of Swimming Pool at Swarnim Gujarat Sports University, Valavav, District Vadodara                             |
|        6 | Haryana        | Construction of All Weather Olympic size Swimming Pool at Kurukshetra University, District Kurukshetra                     |
|        7 | Karnataka      | Construction of Swimming Pool in Sri Jayaprakash Narayana National Youth Training Centre Vidyanagar, District Bengaluru    |
|        8 | Madhya Pradesh | Construction of Swimming pool at SAI Central Regional Centre, District Bhopal                                              |

|   S. No. | State/UT       | Name of the project                                                                                                                 |
|----------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        9 | Madhya Pradesh | Construction of Swimming Pool at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), District Anuppur                                 |
|       10 | Maharashtra    | Construction of Swimming Pool at SAI Western Training Centre, District Aurangabad                                                   |
|       11 | Maharashtra    | Upgradation of Olympic Swimming Parking Ground at Municipal Council Katol, District Nagpur                                          |
|       12 | Manipur        | Construction of Swimming Pool with RCC Gallery, toilet, change room at District Bishnupur Headquarters                              |
|       13 | Odisha         | Construction of Swimming Pool at District Hqrs., District Boudh                                                                     |
|       14 | Puducherry     | Construction of Swimming Pool at Saradambal Nagar, District Puducherry                                                              |
|       15 | Tamil Nadu     | Construction of Swimming Pool at Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University, Melakottaiyur, Chennai, District Chengalpattu |
|       16 | Telangana      | Construction of Swimming pool for women at Osmania University, District Hyderabad                                                   |
|       17 | Tripura        | Construction of Swimming Pool at Regional College of Physical Education (RCPE), Panisagar, District North Tripura                   |

## ii. Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under SAI for water sports

|   S. No | State         | Name of Work                                                                    |
|---------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Gujarat       | Construction of Aquatic complex at Regional Centre Gandhinagar                  |
|       2 | Uttar Pradesh | Construction of Learners Swimming pool at Netaji Subhas Regional Centre Lucknow |
|       3 | Punjab        | Indoor swimming pool 25X25 mtr. size at National Institute of Sports Patiala    |

| 4   | Kerala   | New Boat House and Floating Jetty at SAI Special Area Games (SAG) Alleppey   |
|-----|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

*****

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK SABHA  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  286  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON 02.02.2026 REGARDING 'PROMOTION OF WATER SPORTS' ASKED BY SHRI  GYANESHWAR  PATIL,  DR.  SHIVAJI  BANDAPPA  KALGE,  SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI AND SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE.

NCOE, STCs, Extension Centre of STCs for water sports across the country

| Scheme                  | Centre(s)                                                  | Discipline(s)       |
|-------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| NCOE                    | Bhopal                                                     | Kayaking & Canoeing |
| NCOE                    | Jagatpur                                                   | Kayaking & Canoeing |
| NCOE                    | Jagatpur                                                   | Rowing              |
| STC                     | Port Blair                                                 | Kayaking & Canoeing |
| STC                     | Port Blair                                                 | Rowing              |
| STC                     | Bilaspur                                                   | Kayaking & Canoeing |
| STC                     | Bilaspur                                                   | Rowing              |
| Extension Centre of STC | Dal Lake, Srinagar                                         | Kayaking & Canoeing |
| STC                     | Agartala                                                   | Swimming            |
| STC                     | Yanam                                                      | Swimming            |
| STC                     | Trichur                                                    | Swimming            |
| NCOE                    | Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex, New Delhi | Swimming            |

*****