Parliament Question: Access to Sports Infrastructure and Training

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3483 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 Access to Sports Infrastructure and Training 3483. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH: MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centres, Special Area Games (SAG) and other promotional schemes with large overall trainee numbers have uneven distribution of centres across States, lacking clarity on district-wise coverage; (b) the details of SAI centres in Maharashtra and number of SC/ST/OBC youth that have been enrolled; (c) whether the Government is aware that vacancies and staff shortages in SAI limit their outreach and disadvantage rural and tribal youth; (d) whether the Government has taken any measures to ensure SC/ST/OBC trainees from Sangli, Solapur, Nandurbar, Bhandara, Amravati and Dhule access coaching, competition exposure and placements equitably; and (e) the manner in which SAI proposes to bridge the gaps in access, selection transparency and monitoring to improve inclusion of under- represented groups in Maharashtra? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA] Page 1 of 5(a) ‘Sports’ being a State Subject, the responsibility of promotion and development of sports, including creation of sports facilities, rests primarily with the respective State/UT Governments. Establishment of a Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre is considered based on proposals received from the respective State Governments/UT Administrations, availability of suitable sports infrastructure, sporting potential and technical feasibility. (b) SAI operates 02 National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) at Kandivali, Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. In addition, the National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Akhara Scheme is also operational in Maharashtra. The details are provided at Annexure-I. Selection of athletes under SAI's Sports Promotional Schemes is made on merit through a transparent process as per the respective Scheme Guidelines. Equal opportunity is provided to all eligible sportspersons, including those belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories. However, category-wise (SC/ST/OBC) enrolment data is not maintained centrally. (c) The Recruitment Rules for various posts in the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have recently been revised. Recruitment to various posts is governed by the revised Recruitment Rules and applicable procedures. Coaches have been deployed to centres, wherever required. A proposal for restructuring of the coaching cadre has been formulated. (d) Athletes from all districts of Maharashtra, including Sangli, Solapur, Nandurbar, Bhandara, Amravati and Dhule, are eligible to participate in SAI's talent identification and selection process, subject to fulfilling the prescribed eligibility criteria. Selection of athletes is merit-based, and selected athletes are admitted to any SAI training centre across the country where the concerned sport/discipline is operational and vacancies are available. Selected athletes receive coaching, competition exposure and other admissible support at SAI training centres across the country, as per the respective Scheme Guidelines. No district-specific restriction applies to participation or admission. (e) SAI promotes accessibility, transparency and inclusion under its sports promotional schemes through a transparent, merit-based selection process as per the prescribed criteria. Athletes are identified through open selection trials, National Championships and Page 2 of 5other recognized competitions by the Talent Identification and Development Committee (TIDC), in accordance with the respective Scheme Guidelines. These measures ensure equitable opportunities for talented athletes from all parts of the country, including rural and tribal areas, subject to the prescribed eligibility criteria. ***** Page 3 of 5Annexure – I ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3483 FOR 10.08.2026 ASKED BY DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH, MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE AND SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL REGARDING “ACCESS TO SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRAINING” Details of National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) and Adopted Akharas in the State to Maharashtra SN Region/ Centre Name Disciplines National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) 1 Kandivali Wrestling Archery, Archery (Para), Boxing, Chhatarpati Sambhajinagar Fencing, 2 Fencing (Para), Gymnastics, Hockey and Weightlifting Adopted Akharas 1 Govt. Wrestling Centre, Kohlapur 2 Gulsachi Talim Akhara, Pune 3 Har Har Mahadev, Maroti Nagar, Dhule 4 Jai Shiv Ray Education Society, Kolhapur 5 Jog Maharaj Vyayamshala, Pune. 6 Kishanveer Akhara, Bhuij, Satara 7 Krida Vikas Vyayammandal, Sangli 8 MN Deshmukh Arts Science College, Ahemadnagar 9 Kolhapur Zilla Rashtriya Talim Kendra, Kohlapur Wrestling 10 N. L. Balkwade Vyamshala, 102 Tilakpath, Nasik 11 Rangnath Markad Krida & Yuvak Mandal, Pune 12 Veer Hanuman Kala Krida, Sangli Page 4 of 5SN Region/ Centre Name Disciplines 13 Vishwatmak Jangli Maharaj Wrestling Centre, Ahamadnagar 14 Mamasaheb Mohol Kusti Akhara, Katraj, Pune ***** Page 5 of 5