Lok Sabha Question No. 5879 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Promotion of Traditional and Indigenous Games
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5879

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Promotion of Traditional and Indigenous Games

5879. MS KANGNA RANAUT:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  initiatives  to  promote women's  participation,  sports  for  persons  with  disabilities  along  with indigenous and traditional games under Khelo India and allied schemes;
- (b)  the  details  of  competitions,  training  programmes and  infrastructure for  Himachal
- supported in the country, State/UT-wise, particularly Pradesh; and
- (c)  the  manner  in  which  the  said  initiatives  are  contributing  to  social inclusion, cultural preservation and wider participation in sports?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## ANSWER [ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ]

(a) to (c) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility for development  of  sports,  including  promotion  of  women's  participation, sports  for  persons  with  disabilities,  and  indigenous  and  traditional games, 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 the State of Himachal Pradesh:

- 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;
- Running  Sports  Training  centres  through  Sports  Authority  of
- viii. 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.

Under the Khelo India Scheme, dedicated provisions exist for encouraging women's participation through reservation of slots for girls in  competitions,  athlete  development  programmes  and  sports  training facilities.  Sports  for  persons  with  disabilities  are  promoted  through inclusion in competitive events and support under athlete development components.  Indigenous  and traditional  games  are  also  promoted through inclusion of disciplines such as Silambam, Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Yogasana, Gatka and Thang-Ta in national-level competitions organised under Khelo India.

The  details  of  various  sports  facilities  under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme, such  as  Sports  Infrastructure,  Khelo  India  Centres  (KIC),  Khelo  India Accredited Academies  (KIAA)  along  with  Khelo  India  Athletes  (KIA),  across  the country, including in the State of Himachal Pradesh, are available in the at

State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) and Khelo India public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in.

The  details  of various  sports  facilities,  provided  assistance  under National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), across the country, including in the State of Himachal Pradesh, are available in the public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdfglance.html.

These initiatives contribute to social inclusion by expanding access to sports among women, rural youth and persons with disabilities; support cultural  preservation  by  promoting  indigenous  and  traditional  sports disciplines;  and  broaden  participation  in  sports  through  decentralized infrastructure, regular competitions and athlete development pathways across the country.

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