Parliament Question: Academic Course Conducted in NCSSR

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3723 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 Academic Course Conducted in NCSSR 3723. SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH: SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to increase the participation of players in sports in the country; (b) the details of the number of National Centres of Sports Science and Research (NCSSR) proposed, under-implementation and currently operational in the country, State-wise, particularly in Maharashtra; (c) the details of academic courses being offered in the NCSSR across the country during the last five years and the current year, year and institution-wise along with the number of graduates passed thereunder; (d) the details of NCSSR-wise total funds allocated, released and utilized during the said period, especially in Maharashtra; (e) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of NCSSR in the country and if so, the details thereof; and (f) the details of the steps taken by the Government for construction of playgrounds, especially in Washim-Yavatmal Parliamentary Constituency of Maharashtra? Page 1 of 3ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA] (a) “Sports” being a State subject, promotion of sports in a State/UT is the primary responsibility of the respective State/UT Governments. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports supports the efforts of State Governments, through Sports Authority of India (SAI), to identify talented sportspersons in the various age groups and nurture them to excel at national and international levels through National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Extension Centres of STC and National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) (its Sub-Schemes – Regular Schools, IGMAs & Adopted Akharas). Further, Government has implemented the Khelo India Scheme as its flagship initiative since 2017 to promote a sports culture, encourage mass participation, and nurture excellence through a structured national ecosystem through its components i.e. Khelo India Centres (KICs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) and Accredited Academies. (b) and (c) Under the National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR) Scheme, Sports Science services are delivered through a Hub-And-Spoke model, wherein the NCSSR located at Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, New Delhi, functions as the national hub, providing sports science support to the Sports Authority of India’s National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) and High-Performance Centres across the country. At present, sports science infrastructure under the scheme has been extended to 11 National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) and 2 High Performance Centres including the NCoE at Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Further, NCSSR Scheme supports academic and research activities in sports sciences through collaboration with selected universities and medical institutions in order to develop trained manpower in sports science and sports medicine. Academic programmes supported under the scheme include postgraduate and research programmes such as M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Sports Sciences in disciplines such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports nutrition and related fields. The data regarding the number of graduates passed under these programmes is maintained by the respective Universities/Institutes concerned. Page 2 of 3(d) A total financial outlay of ₹260.00 crore has been approved under the NCSSR Scheme for strengthening sports science infrastructure and academic capacity in the country. The approved components include: • Establishment and operationalisation of NCSSR at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi – ₹46.00 crore • Provision of sports science equipment and scientific support systems at 11 NCoEs and 2 High Performance Centres – ₹77.70 crore • Establishment of Sports Science Departments in selected universities – ₹73.80 crore • Establishment of Sports Medicine Departments in identified medical colleges – ₹62.50 crore • Under the NCoE component, ₹5.17 crore per NCoE has been approved for strengthening sports science infrastructure and equipment, including the NCoE at Aurangabad, Maharashtra. (e) No, Sir. However, the Government is committed to progressively strengthen sports science support systems across the country to enhance athlete performance and support India’s high-performance sports ecosystem. (f) Under the “Creation and Up-gradation of Sports Infrastructure” component of the Khelo India Scheme (KIS) and the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), the Government provides financial assistance for development of sports infrastructure such as synthetic athletic tracks, synthetic hockey fields, synthetic turf football grounds, multipurpose halls and swimming pools across the country, including in the State of Maharashtra. The details of approved projects and their physical and financial progress, under the KIS and NSDF, across the country are available in the public domain on the Ministry’s dashboards at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf- glance.html. ***** Page 3 of 3