Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2485 regarding the development of sports infrastructure for youth, particularly in rural and tribal districts. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports addresses the availability and accessibility of sports infrastructure, schemes to promote youth participation, central assistance under the Khelo India scheme in Odisha, and measures to ensure assistance reaches underserved districts. The answer was provided on August 4, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Responsibility for Sports Development:**
* The development of sports infrastructure and the promotion of youth participation primarily rests with State/Union Territory Governments.
* The Union Government supplements these efforts by addressing critical gaps.
* **Schemes Implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports:**
* Khelo India National Programme for Development of Sports
* Assistance to National Sports Federations
* Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches
* National Sports Awards
* Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons
* Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons
* National Sports Development Fund
* Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of India
* **Khelo India Scheme and Central Assistance:**
* The Ministry provides financial support under the Khelo India Scheme for creating basic sports infrastructure across the country, including Odisha.
* Details of approved projects, sanctioned costs, funds released, and progress are available on the Ministry's dashboard.
* **Assistance to Underserved Districts:**
* The Government undertakes necessary measures to ensure assistance reaches underserved districts with high youth potential.
Impact Analysis:
* State/Union Territory Governments
* Impact: Primarily responsible for sports development and youth participation promotion.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and improving sports infrastructure and youth programs in their respective regions.
* Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports:
* Impact: Supplements state efforts by bridging critical gaps and implementing national sports schemes.
* Action Required: Continue administering and monitoring the various sports development schemes and providing financial assistance.
* Sports Authority of India:
* Impact: Responsible for running sports training centers.
* Action Required: Maintain and improve the operation of sports training centers across the country.
* Youth in Under-resourced Regions:
* Impact: Benefit from improved sports infrastructure and increased opportunities for participation.
* Action Required: Engage with available sports programs and infrastructure to develop their sporting potential.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The Indian government ministry responsible for youth affairs and sports.
Khelo India: A national program for the development of sports in India.
Odisha: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of sports infrastructure development under the Khelo India scheme.
Sports Authority of India: An organization responsible for running sports training centers and implementing sports-related schemes.
Khelo India National Programme for Development of Sports: A specific scheme under the Khelo India initiative focused on sports development.
National Sports Awards: A set of awards given by the Indian government to recognize achievements in sports.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya: The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports at the time of the question.
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons: A welfare program for sportspersons in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2485
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Development of Sports Infrastructure for Youth
2485. Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has reviewed the availability and accessibility
of basic sports infrastructure such as open gyms, multi-sport grounds and
coaching centres in rural and tribal districts across the country;
(b) if so, whether schemes are being implemented to promote youth
participation in sports in under-resourced regions;
(c) whether the Government has extended central assistance under
schemes such as Khelo India for the development of sports infrastructure or
identification of grassroots talent in tribal regions of Odisha and if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) whether necessary measures have been undertaken by the Government
to ensure that such assistance reaches in the underserved districts with
high youth potential?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
{ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA }
(a) and (b) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development
of sports, including reviewing the availability and accessibility of basic
sports infrastructure such as open gyms, multi-sport grounds and coaching
centres in rural and tribal districts across the country and implementing
schemes to promote youth participation in sports in under-resourced
regions, 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, including
amongst youth in under-resourced regions:
Page 1 of 2(i) Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports;
(ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations;
(iii) Cash Incentive 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; and
(viii) Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of
India.
Details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the
websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.
(c) Yes, Sir. Under the “Creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure”
component of the Khelo India Scheme, this Ministry renders financial
support for creation of basic sports infrastructure such as sports complex,
synthetic athletic tracks, synthetic hockey fields, synthetic turf football
grounds, multipurpose halls, swimming pools, etc., across the country,
including in the State of Odisha. The details of the sports infrastructure
projects approved and their sanctioned cost, funds released and their
physical and financial progress, under Khelo India Scheme, across the
country, including in the State of Odisha, are available in public domain on
the dashboard of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in.
(d) Yes, Sir.
*****
Page 2 of 2