Lok Sabha Question No. 4965 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Football Development in India
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4965 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Football Development in India

4965. Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  the development of football in India, including grassroots programmes, school level initiatives and talent identification schemes during the last five years and the current year;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  supports  and  implements  national football  development  strategies,  such  as  those  envisaged  in  the roadmap  of  All  India  Football  Federation's  Vision  2047,  including coach education, youth engagement and expansion of competitive leagues;
- (c) if so, the details of specific policies and funding provisions made for the creation and enhancement of football-specific infrastructure such as stadia, training grounds, coaching centres and grassroots facilities across the country, States/UTs-wise;
- (d) the details of total number of football pitches, turfs and training academies established or upgraded with Government support during the last five years and the current year, location-wise;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to further strengthen football infrastructure and ecosystem to nurture talent, increase

participation  and  improve  India's  competitiveness  in  regional  and global football; and

- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## ANSWER [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]

(a) to (f) Primary responsibility for the development and promotion of a sports discipline rests with the concerned recognized National Sports Federation (NSF), which in the case of football is the All India Football Federation. However, the Union Government supplements their efforts under its various schemes.

Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI)  under  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  & Sports  is  implementing  the  following  Sports  Promotional  Schemes across the country to identify talented sportspersons at grassroots levels,  including  football  players  in  the  various  age  groups  and nurture them to excel at national and international levels:

-  National Centres of Excellence (NCOE)
- 
- SAI Training Centre (STC)
-  Extension Centre of STC
-  National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC)

Further, under the Scheme  of Assistance to NSFs, financial assistance is provided to the recognized NSFs for training of athletes, which  includes  all  requisite  support  for  training,  participation  in international events, conduct of national championships, conduct of international tournaments in India, engagement of foreign coaches /support staff, scientific &  medical  support etc. It has  been provisioned that at least 20% of their annual budget is earmarked for grassroots  development  through  their  affiliate units  to  ensure development of bench strength, by the NSFs.

Further, under the Khelo India scheme, a total of 25 football fields, 191  Khelo  India  Centres  (KIC)  and  21  Khelo  India  Accredited Academies  have  been  sanctioned/  notified,  the  detail  of  which  is available  in  public  domain  on  the  dashboard  of  the  Ministry  at:

https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in, https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in/khelo-india-center-dashboard

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