Lok Sabha Question No. 5905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Financial Assistance for Sports Infrastructure
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5905 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Financial Assistance for Sports Infrastructure

5905. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  scheme  for  providing  financial assistance to the schools and colleges in rural areas of the country for the  development  of  sports  infrastructure  and  procurement  of  sports equipment, State/UT-wise;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, including the funds granted to schools and colleges  under  the  said  scheme  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (c)  the number of schools and colleges that have received such grants during the said period, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the criteria adopted for granting such financial assistance; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to introduce any policy to provide sports  training  from  the  primary  education  level  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## 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 providing financial assistance to schools and colleges in rural areas for development of sports infrastructure  and  procurement  of  sports  equipment,  sanction  and release  of  grants,  identification  of  beneficiary  institutions,  prescribing criteria  for  financial  assistance,  and  promotion  of  sports  training  from

the primary education level, 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,  which  also  cater  to  development  of  sports infrastructure,  procurement  of  sports  equipment,  training  and  other sports-related facilities, including for schools and colleges in rural areas:

- 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;
- viii. Running  Sports  Training  centres  through  Sports  Authority  of 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 schemes.  The  proposals  received from the State/ Union Territory Governments  and  other  eligible  entities  are  considered  for  financial support, subject to their completeness, technical feasibility and availability of funds under the scheme. The receipt of project proposals from  the  State/UT  Governments  and  other  eligible  entities,  including schools  and  colleges,  is  a  continual  process.  The  Khelo  India  Scheme caters to the needs of the entire country within its allocated budget for activities/programmes.

The  details  of  sports  infrastructure  sanctioned  under  the  Khelo  India Scheme and NSDF across the country, including schools and colleges, are available in the public domain on the dashboards of the Ministry at mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html, respectively.

The  Ministry  of  Education,  through  the  Samagra  Shiksha,  Integrated Scheme  for  School  Education,  is  promoting  inclusive  and  equitable quality education alongside holistic child development, including sports and physical education. Under this scheme, government schools across the country receive annual financial grants to procure sports equipment, which  are  ₹5,000  for  primary  schools,  ₹10,000  for  upper  primary,  and ₹25,000  for  secondary  and  senior  secondary  schools.  Additionally, schools are eligible for an extra grant of up to ₹25,000 if at least two students win medals in the Khelo India Games, encouraging competitive sports.

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