Lok Sabha Question No. 5776 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Sports Manufacturing & Athlete Development Initiatives
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Shri Praveen Patel, Shri Damodar Agrawal, Shri P P Chaudhary, Smt. Malvika Devi, Shri Sunil Kumar, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Shri Chandra Prakash Joshi

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5776 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

Sports Manufacturing & Athlete Development Initiatives

## 5776. SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:

SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:

DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:

SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:

SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  successfully  operationalised  the initiative for providing Rs. 500 crore to boost the manufacturing of sports  goods  in  the  country,  along  with  the  key components  and objectives of the programme;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State/UT-wise  including  Rajasthan, particularly  Pali  Lok  Sabha Constituency  along  with  investment support,  research  collaboration  and  infrastructure development  for indigenous sports equipment manufacturing;
- (c)  the  manner  in  which  dedicated  research  in  material  sciences under the said initiative is assisting in the production of affordable,

high-quality indigenous sports equipment such as hockey sticks and other sporting gear;

- (d)  the  specific  achievement made under the Augmenting of Study Materials  in  Indian Languages  through  Translation  and  Academic Writing (ASMITA) initiative in promoting gender neutrality in competitive sports education and training resources during the year 2025-26; and
- (e) the manner in which the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has successfully supported the training of Indian athletes preparing to compete at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) Promotion of Sports Goods  Manufacturing aims at developing a robust and globally competitive sports manufacturing ecosystem  in  the  country.  An  allocation  of  ₹500  crore  has  been earmarked for this purpose in the Union Budget. The scheme seeks to promote innovation, strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian sports goods. The scheme will be finalized after consultations with various stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive and effective framework for the sector.
- (d) Under  Khelo  India  Scheme,  Khelo  India  Women  League  was started in 2021 to offer opportunities to women for participating & excelling in sporting activities. It was renamed as ASMITA League which  Stands  for  'Achieving  Sports  Milestone  by  Inspiring  Women through Action'. Under this initiative, various Khelo India Women's League - are being conducted. As on date, 2407 ASMITA leagues have been organised in more than 34 sports disciplines across the country, which  has  seen  participation  from  280142  women  athletes.  This initiative has significantly increased women participation in sports across the nation and has provided ample opportunities to women athletes to compete, learn and grow in all age groups.

(e)  At  present,  TOP  Scheme  does  not  cover  support  for  athletes participating in the Winter Olympics.

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