Lok Sabha Question No. 5955 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Challenges Faced by Sportspersons
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5955 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

Challenges Faced by Sportspersons

## 5955. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware of the challenges faced by young sportspersons in the country, including lack of adequate infrastructure, financial support and coaching facilities;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the Government to address these issues;

- (c) whether the Government has conducted any nationwide assessment regarding the availability  of  sports  infrastructure  and  training  facilities for  youth  athletes,  particularly  in  rural  and  semi-urban  areas  and  if  so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether the Government proposes to increase financial assistance, scholarships and stipends for young sportspersons who represent their State or the country in national and international competitions and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has received complaints regarding delays in disbursement of funds, scholarships and incentives to youth sportspersons and if so, the details along with the corrective measures taken thereon?

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

(a) to (e) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility for development of sports, including addressing challenges faced by young

sportspersons relating to availability of sports infrastructure, conducting nationwide assessment regarding the availability of sports infrastructure and  training  facilities  for  youth  athletes,  increasing  financial  support, coaching  facilities,  training  facilities,  scholarships,  stipends,  timely disbursement of incentives and addressing complaints regarding delays in disbursement of funds, scholarships and incentives to youth sportspersons, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments.  The  Union  Government  supplements  their  efforts  by bridging critical gaps. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports implements  the  following  schemes  for  the  promotion  of  sports  across the country, which also cater to training, infrastructure, athlete support and other facilities for sportspersons:

- 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.
- v.
- National Sports Awards;
- Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons;
- vi. Pandit  Deendayal  Upadhyay  National  Welfare  Program  for Sportspersons;
- vii.
- National Sports Development Fund (NSDF);
- 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.

The Khelo India Scheme and National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), implemented  by  this  Ministry,  under  which  financial  assistance  for development  of  sports  infrastructure  is  provided  are  demand-driven Territory Governments  and  other  eligible  entities  are  considered  for  financial and sports infrastructure  sanctioned  under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme  and  NSDF across the country are available in the public domain on the dashboards schemes.  The  proposals  received from the State/ Union support, subject to their completeness, technical feasibility availability of funds under the scheme. The details of of the Ministry at mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdfglance.html, respectively.

The  Ministry of Youth  Affairs and  Sports, through various Sports Promotional  Schemes  of  the  Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI),  provides financial  assistance  and  stipends  to  young  sportspersons  for  their training  and  participation  in  national  and  international  competitions. These provisions are reviewed periodically to ensure adequate support. At  present,  no  proposal  is  under  consideration  for  increasing  financial assistance  under  SAI  schemes.  Under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  2,904 identified athletes receive financial assistance of ₹6.28 lakh per annum, including  a  monthly  Out-of-Pocket  Allowance  (OPA)  of  ₹10,000,  along with  expenses  for  coaching,  diet,  lodging,  and  medical  insurance. Further, under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Core Group athletes receive an OPA of ₹50,000 per month and Development Group athletes  ₹25,000  per  month,  besides  complete  financial  support  for customized  training,  international  exposure,  coaching,  equipment,  and sports science assistance.

Occasional delays in disbursement of funds and scholarships to sportspersons have been reported. To address this, the Government has implemented  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT)  for  direct  and  timely  fund release,  introduced  online  monitoring  systems  for  transparency,  and strengthened  grievance  redressal  mechanisms.  These  measures  have significantly improved the efficiency and timeliness of financial disbursements to athletes.

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