**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been implementing measures to empower differently-abled youth in areas of accessibility, skill development, and sports. This includes financial assistance, training programs, and infrastructure development. Deadlines and specific dates mentioned include the organization of Khelo India Para Games in December 2023 and March 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Khelo India Scheme:**
* Focused support is extended through the "Promotion of Sports among Persons with Disabilities" component.
* Two editions of the Khelo India Para Games were organized in Delhi in December 2023 and March 2025.
* Over 2,000 para athletes benefited from national-level exposure through these games.
* **National Centres of Excellence:**
* Sports Authority of India is implementing centers to identify and nurture para athletes, with Gandhinagar as the nodal center.
* 286 para athlete positions have been sanctioned, with 183 residential athletes undergoing structured training.
* **Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS):**
* Supports elite para athletes, with 61 athletes currently in the TOPS Core Group.
* 24 Khelo India para athletes participated in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and secured six medals.
* **Financial Assistance to National Sports Federations:**
* Provided to recognized National Sports Federations such as the Paralympic Committee of India, All India Sports Council for Deaf and Special Olympics Bharat to strengthen training and international participation.
* **Rehabilitation, Education, and Skill Development:**
* Under the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme, fund release increased from ₹83.18 crore in 2020-21 to ₹139.86 crore in 2024-25.
* **Scholarships for Students with Disabilities:**
* ₹145.20 crore was utilized in 2022-23 alone under the Umbrella Scheme, benefiting 44,162 students.
* **Assistance for Purchase or Fitting of Aids and Appliances:**
* Expanded outreach, covering 3,46,273 beneficiaries with a utilization of ₹368.44 crore in 2023-24.
* **Vocational Rehabilitation:**
* Twenty-four National Career Service Centres for Differently Abled are operational.
* Beneficiary intake increased from 6,999 in 2020-21 to 47,166 in 2024-25.
* **Skill India Mission:**
* Inclusive skill training is delivered through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and Craftsmen Training Scheme.
* Five courses have been specifically designed for specially abled persons under the Craftsmen Training Scheme.
* **Cross-Disability Early Intervention Centres:**
* Have covered approximately 19.70 lakh beneficiaries since inception.
* The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Training Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior has benefited over 3,000 para athletes.
* Around 66,900 beneficiaries have been enrolled under the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme during 2025-26.
* **Infrastructure:**
* Sports Authority of India incorporates accessible facilities in sports infrastructure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Differently Abled Youth:**
*Impact:*
* Enhanced access to sports and skill development opportunities.
* Increased financial assistance for education, aids, and appliances.
* Improved access to training and rehabilitation programs.
*Action Required:*
* Participate in available programs and schemes.
* Utilize resources for education, training, and skill development.
**Sports Authority of India:**
*Impact:*
* Central role in identifying and nurturing para-athletes through National Centres of Excellence.
* Responsible for creating accessible sports infrastructure.
*Action Required:*
* Implement and manage the National Centres of Excellence.
* Ensure accessibility in sports infrastructure.
**National Sports Federations (e.g., Paralympic Committee of India):**
*Impact:*
* Receive financial assistance to strengthen training and international participation of para-athletes.
*Action Required:*
* Utilize funds to enhance training programs.
* Promote international participation of para-athletes.
**Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment:**
*Impact:*
* Responsible for the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme, which provides financial assistance for rehabilitation, education, and skill development.
*Action Required:*
* Continue to implement and expand the reach of the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: Primary governmental body overseeing the schemes and initiatives discussed in the document.
Khelo India Scheme: A sports scheme with a specific component focused on promoting sports among persons with disabilities.
Sports Authority of India: Implementing body for National Centres of Excellence to identify and nurture para athletes.
Skill India Mission: Mission under which inclusive skill training is delivered through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and Craftsmen Training Scheme.
Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme: Rehabilitation scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to support persons with disabilities.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Government Strengthens Welfare and Sporting
Opportunities for Differently Abled Youth
Posted On: 12 FEB 2026 5:35PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has undertaken comprehensive measures during the last five
years to promote empowerment, accessibility, skill development and sporting excellence among
differently abled youth across the country
Under the Khelo India Scheme, focused support is extended through the Promotion of Sports among
Persons with Disabilities component. Two editions of the Khelo India Para Games were organised in
Delhi in December 2023 and March 2025. The 2023 edition recorded participation of 1,068 para athletes,
while the 2025 edition saw 1,233 athletes compete across multiple disciplines. Overall, more than 2,000
para athletes benefited from national-level exposure through these Games.
The Sports Authority of India is implementing National Centres of Excellence across the country to
identify and nurture para athletes. Gandhinagar has been designated as the nodal centre for Para Sports. At
present, 286 para athlete positions have been sanctioned, with 183 residential athletes undergoing
structured training across disciplines such as para athletics, badminton, archery, fencing, swimming,
powerlifting, table tennis and others.
Elite para athletes are supported under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme. Currently, 61 para athletes,
including 21 women and 40 men across eight disciplines, are part of the TOPS Core Group. The highest
representation is in para athletics, followed by para badminton and para archery. Twenty-four Khelo
India para athletes participated in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and secured six medals for India.
Financial assistance is provided to recognised National Sports Federations such as the Paralympic
Committee of India, All India Sports Council for Deaf and Special Olympics Bharat under the
Assistance to National Sports Federations Scheme to strengthen training and international participation.
Beyond sports, major efforts have been undertaken in rehabilitation, education and skill development.
Under the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, fund release increased from ₹83.18 crore in 2020-21 to ₹139.86 crore in 2024-25,
benefiting over 34,000 persons annually in recent years.
Under the Umbrella Scheme for Scholarships for Students with Disabilities, ₹145.20 crore was
utilised in 2022-23 alone, benefiting 44,162 students across various components including pre-matric,
post-matric, top class education, fellowships and overseas scholarships.
The Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase or Fitting of Aids and Appliances Scheme
has significantly expanded outreach. In 2023-24, 3,46,273 beneficiaries were covered with utilisation of
₹368.44 crore.
Vocational rehabilitation services have also strengthened considerably. Twenty-four National Career
Service Centres for Differently Abled are operational across the country. Beneficiary intake increased
from 6,999 in 2020-21 to 47,166 in 2024-25, reflecting expanded outreach and improved service delivery.Under the Skill India Mission, inclusive skill training is delivered through schemes such as Pradhan
Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and Craftsmen Training
Scheme. Five courses have been specifically designed for specially abled persons under the Craftsmen
Training Scheme to enhance employability.
Cross-Disability Early Intervention Centres have covered approximately 19.70 lakh beneficiaries since
inception. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Training Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior has benefited
over 3,000 para athletes through specialised training programmes. Additionally, around 66,900
beneficiaries have been enrolled under the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme during 2025-26, with
coverage up to ₹1 lakh per annum.
Sports infrastructure created by the Sports Authority of India incorporates accessible facilities including
ramps and barrier-free amenities. The Government continues to undertake periodic review, monitoring and
third-party evaluations to ensure effective implementation and measurable impact of these initiatives for
differently abled youth across the country
This information was given by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in a
written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
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Pawan Singh Faujdar
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