Lok Sabha Question No. 4116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: National Sports Talent Search Scheme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT, SHASHI THAROOR, RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4116 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

National Sports Talent Search Scheme

4116. SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: DR. SHASHI THAROOR: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  replaced  the  scheme for  Identification and Nurturing of Sporting Talent in the country (INSTAL) with the National Sports  Talent  Search  Scheme  (NSTSS)  to  identify  and  nurture  sporting talent in district level sports schools and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  reasons  for  not  allocating  any  funds  for  the  implementation  of INSTAL;
- (c)  whether  all  schools  in  the  country  have  successfully  conducted  the Physical Efficiency and Sport Aptitude Tests (PESAT) under the NSTSS to shortlist four boys and four girls for the block/district level sports talent search and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the proposed time period for completing the process of identification of talented boys and girls and their enrollment in sports schools/academies for their training?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) to (d) In  April,  2013  it  was  envisaged  to  establish  District  Level Sports Schools (DLSS) for Identification and Nurturing of Sporting Talent (INSTAL)  in  the  country.  Action  was  initiated  to  float  an  Expression  of Interest  (EOI)  inviting  Bids  for  preparing  Definitive  Feasibility  Report

(DFR)  for  establishment  of  DLSS.  Meanwhile,  in  December,  2013,  the concept  of  INSTAL  underwent  change.  It  was  decided  that  instead  of creating  new  DLSS,  the  Schools  already  existing  in  the  country  with adequate of sports infrastructure be explored with suitable methodology to  identify  the  sporting  talent  amongst  the  students  in  those  schools. Thus, the initial idea of establishing District Level Sports Schools (DLSS) was dropped and the same has been shelved.

On 09th June 2014, INSTAL was replaced by National Sports Talent Search System (NSTSS), which was launched on 25th February, 2015.

During  the  financial  year  2015-16,  as  part  of  follow  up  action  for implementation  of  NSTSS,  it  was  decided  to  select  a  Knowledge  & Marketing  Partner  to  work  with  this  Ministry  for  operations,  scheduling and packaging of NSTSS.

In  October,  2015  it  was  intimated  by  Finance  Secretary  that  the ongoing Centrally Sponsored schemes in the Department may be suitably restructured as Central Sector Scheme.  Hence,  the  three ongoing schemes,  namely,  Rajiv  Gandhi  Khel  Abhiyan  (RGKA),  Urban  Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS)  were  dovetailed  under  'Khelo  India  -  National  Programme  for Development  of  Sports'  with  concurrence  of  Ministry  of  Finance  in February, 2016 as a Central Sector Scheme from the financial year 201617 onwards. Accordingly, the scheme, 'Khelo India - National Programme for  Development  of  Sports'  was  formulated  and  launched  on  22nd  April, 2016. The objectives of the scheme are:

- a) Mass participation of youth in annual sports competitions through a structured competition;
2. b)
3. Identification of talent;
- c) Guidance  and  nurturing  of the talent through existing sports academies  and  new  set  up  either  by  the  central  Government  or State Government or in Public Private Partnership(PPP) mode; and
- d) Creation of Sports Infrastructure at mofussil, Tehsil, District, State levels, etc.

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