Lok Sabha Question No. 40 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Development of World-Class Sports Infrastructure
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Mohmad Haneefa

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *40

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

Development of World-Class Sports Infrastructure

- *40.  SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:

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

- (a)  whether the  Government recognises Ladakh's exceptional potential to  emerge  as  a  world-class  winter  sports  hub  owing  to  its  unique geography, high-altitude terrain and prolonged winter season;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  any  comprehensive  policy  or  roadmap  is  being formulated to develop world-class sports infrastructure, training facilities and support systems for winter sports in Ladakh;
- (c)  whether  the  Government proposes to organise regular national and and tournaments in Ladakh to promote sports tourism and global visibility;
- international winter sports competitions, championships and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken to ensure participation of local youth and athletes through coaching, exposure, and employment opportunities so that the development  of winter sports contributes to sustainable livelihoods and strengthens the sporting culture in Ladakh?

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

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *40 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026 REGARDING ' DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD-CLASS SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE '  ASKED  BY SHRI  MOHMAD  HANEEFA ,  HON'BLE MEMBER OF LOK SABHA

(a) to (d) ' Sports ' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including, formulation of comprehensive policy or roadmap to develop worldclass sports infrastructure, training facilities and support systems for winter sports, organising regular national and international winter sports competitions, championships and tournaments to promote sports tourism and global visibility and taking steps to ensure participation  of  local  youth  and  athletes  through  coaching,  exposure, and employment opportunities so that the development of winter sports contributes  to  sustainable  livelihoods  and  strengthens  the  sporting culture, rests primarily with the respective 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  the  promotion  of  sports  in  the country, including in Ladakh:

- (i)
- Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports;
- (ii)
- Assistance to National Sports Federations;
- (iii) Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches;
- (iv)
- (v)
- National Sports Awards;
- 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 (SAI).

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

This  Ministry,  after  taking  into  consideration  the  potential  talent  and prospects for development of Ice Hockey in Ladakh region and the fact that  majority  of  Ice  Hockey  players,  who  participate  in  national  and international Ice Hockey events, hail from Himalayan belt, has recognised  Ice  Hockey  Federation  of  India  (IHFI)  as  a  National  Sports

Promotion  Organization  (NSPO)  for  the  promotion  and  development  of sport of Ice Hockey.

Further,  this  Ministry  has  conducted  three  editions  of  the  Khelo  India Winter Games 2024 to 2026 in Ladakh, focusing on the disciplines of Ice Hockey and Ice Skating. These games were held  from 02 -06  February 2024 and 23 -27  January  2025,  both  seeing  a  participation  of  over  350 athletes. The most recent edition of Khelo India Winter  Games, conducted from 20 -26 January 2026, demonstrated a significant increase  in  engagement  with  over  450  athletes  participating  in  the events held at Leh.

Under  Khelo  India  Scheme,  this  Ministry  has  approved  03  sports infrastructure  projects,  notified  03  Khelo  India  Centres  and  01  Khelo India  State  Centres  of  Excellence  in  Ladakh.  Further,  as  on  date,  01 Khelo India Athlete from Ladakh has been identified under the scheme and  is  getting  trained  for  various  national  and  international  sports events.  Details  of  the  same  are  available  in  the  public  domain  on  the dashboard of the Ministry at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in.

In addition to above, 01 SAI Training Centre, catering to the athletes of Boxing and Taekwondo is also operational at Kargil.

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