**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *40, regarding the development of world-class sports infrastructure in Ladakh, to be answered on February 2, 2026. It outlines the Government's initiatives and policies related to promoting winter sports in Ladakh. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is implementing several schemes for sports promotion, including in Ladakh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Recognition of Ladakh's Potential:** The Government acknowledges Ladakh's potential as a world-class winter sports hub.
* **State/Union Territory Government Responsibility:** The primary responsibility for sports development lies with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements their efforts.
* **Schemes for Sports Promotion (including in Ladakh):**
* 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 (SAI)
* **Ice Hockey Federation of India (IHFI):** The Ministry has recognized Ice Hockey Federation of India (IHFI) as a National Sports Promotion Organization (NSPO) for Ice Hockey.
* **Khelo India Winter Games:** Three editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been conducted in Ladakh from 2024 to 2026, with increasing athlete participation.
* **Khelo India Scheme in Ladakh:** Under the Khelo India Scheme, the ministry has approved 3 sports infrastructure projects, notified 3 Khelo India Centers and 1 Khelo India State Center of Excellence in Ladakh. 1 Khelo India Athlete from Ladakh has been identified.
* **SAI Training Centre in Kargil:** A SAI Training Centre catering to Boxing and Taekwondo athletes is operational in Kargil.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact: Ladakh's Sports Community and Athletes**
* **Impact:** Benefits from enhanced sports infrastructure, training facilities, and support systems for winter sports. Increased opportunities for participation in national and international competitions. Potential for sustainable livelihoods through winter sports.
* **Action Required:** Athletes should leverage the opportunities provided by the various schemes and facilities to improve their skills and participate in competitions.
**Impact: State/Union Territory Government**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the development of sports, including policy formulation and infrastructure development. Needs to coordinate with the Union Government to supplement their efforts.
* **Action Required:** Continue efforts to promote sports at the state level.
**Impact: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports**
* **Impact:** Oversees the implementation of various schemes and initiatives to promote sports in Ladakh and across the country.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide support and resources to Ladakh for the development of winter sports. Maintain the information dashboard.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports: The central ministry responsible for formulating and implementing policies for the promotion of sports in India.
Khelo India: A national programme for the development of sports, including the Khelo India Winter Games.
Ladakh: The Union Territory in India, which is the central location of the sports development initiatives mentioned in the policy.
Sports Authority of India (SAI): An organization responsible for running sports training centers and promoting sports in India.
Ice Hockey Federation of India (IHFI): Recognized by the Ministry as a National Sports Promotion Organization (NSPO) for ice hockey.
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Department of Sports
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *40
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Development of World-Class Sports Infrastructure
*40. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government recognises Ladakh’s exceptional potential
to emerge as a world-class winter sports hub owing to its unique
geography, high-altitude terrain and prolonged winter season;
(b) if so, whether any comprehensive policy or roadmap is being
formulated to develop world-class sports infrastructure, training
facilities and support systems for winter sports in Ladakh;
(c) whether the Government proposes to organise regular national and
international winter sports competitions, championships and
tournaments in Ladakh to promote sports tourism and global visibility;
and
(d) the steps taken/being taken to ensure participation of local youth and
athletes through coaching, exposure, and employment opportunities so
that the development of winter sports contributes to sustainable
livelihoods and strengthens the sporting culture in Ladakh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
[ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ]
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Page 1 of 3STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *40 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
REGARDING “DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD-CLASS SPORTS
INFRASTRUCTURE” ASKED BY SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA, HON’BLE
MEMBER OF LOK SABHA
(a) to (d) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development
of sports, including, formulation of comprehensive policy or roadmap to
develop worldclass sports infrastructure, training facilities and support
systems for winter sports, organising regular national and international
winter sports competitions, championships and tournaments to promote
sports tourism and global visibility and taking steps to ensure
participation of local youth and athletes through coaching, exposure,
and employment opportunities so that the development of winter sports
contributes to sustainable livelihoods and strengthens the sporting
culture, 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 in Ladakh:
(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 (SAI).
Details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the
websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.
This Ministry, after taking into consideration the potential talent and
prospects for development of Ice Hockey in Ladakh region and the fact
that majority of Ice Hockey players, who participate in national and
international Ice Hockey events, hail from Himalayan belt, has
recognised Ice Hockey Federation of India (IHFI) as a National Sports
Page 2 of 3Promotion Organization (NSPO) for the promotion and development of
sport of Ice Hockey.
Further, this Ministry has conducted three editions of the Khelo India
Winter Games 2024 to 2026 in Ladakh, focusing on the disciplines of Ice
Hockey and Ice Skating. These games were held from 02–06 February
2024 and 23–27 January 2025, both seeing a participation of over 350
athletes. The most recent edition of Khelo India Winter Games,
conducted from 20–26 January 2026, demonstrated a significant
increase in engagement with over 450 athletes participating in the
events held at Leh.
Under Khelo India Scheme, this Ministry has approved 03 sports
infrastructure projects, notified 03 Khelo India Centres and 01 Khelo
India State Centres of Excellence in Ladakh. Further, as on date, 01
Khelo India Athlete from Ladakh has been identified under the scheme
and is getting trained for various national and international sports
events. Details of the same are available in the public domain on the
dashboard of the Ministry at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in.
In addition to above, 01 SAI Training Centre, catering to the athletes of
Boxing and Taekwondo is also operational at Kargil.
*****
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