Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1210 regarding grassroots sports development in Punjab, answered on July 28, 2025, by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. It outlines the government's initiatives to improve India's performance in the Olympics by focusing on grassroots sports development, infrastructure investment, and athlete support. The response details various schemes and programs implemented across the country, including specific efforts in Punjab, to promote youth participation and enhance sports infrastructure.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Government's Stance on Sports Development:**
* The Government agrees on the need to focus on grassroots sports development, infrastructure investment, and comprehensive support to athletes to improve India's Olympic performance.
* **Division of Responsibility:**
* The responsibility for the development and encouragement of sports primarily rests with State/Union Territory Governments.
* The Central Government supplements the efforts of State/Union Territory Governments.
* **Central Government Schemes for Sports Promotion:**
* Khelo India National Programme for Development of Sports.
* Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs).
* Cash Incentives 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).
* National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).
* Details of these schemes are available on the Ministry's website: https:yas.nic.in.
* **Initiatives in Punjab under Khelo India Scheme:**
* 29 Khelo India Centres (KICs) have been established.
* 01 Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for Hockey, Boxing, and Athletics.
* 24 Khelo India Academies.
* Details available at https:dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in.
* **SAI Centers in Punjab:**
* 01 National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) at Patiala.
* 3 SAI Training Centres at Mustuana Sahib, Badal, and Ludhiana.
* **Sports Infrastructure Development:**
* 328 sports infrastructure projects sanctioned across the country under the Khelo India Scheme.
* 12 projects sanctioned in Punjab at a cost of Rs. 106.19 crore.
* Details available at https:mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in.
Impact Analysis:
**State/Union Territory Governments:**
* *Impact:* Primarily responsible for the development and encouragement of sports within their jurisdiction, with the Central Government providing supplementary support.
* *Action Required:* Continue to develop and implement sports programs, utilizing the schemes and resources provided by the Central Government.
**Athletes (Promising and Meritorious):**
* *Impact:* Benefit from early talent identification, specialized coaching, foreign exposure, sports science support, and financial assistance.
* *Action Required:* Participate in available programs and utilize the resources provided to enhance their performance.
**National Sports Federations (NSFs):**
* *Impact:* Receive assistance from the Central Government to promote sports.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective sports programs.
**Sports Authority of India (SAI):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for running sports training centers and promoting sports science and research.
* *Action Required:* Maintain and improve the quality of training centers and research programs.
**Youth in Punjab:**
* *Impact:* Increased opportunities to participate in sports through Khelo India Centres, Academies, and infrastructure projects.
* *Action Required:* Engage in available sports programs and utilize the new infrastructure to improve their skills and participation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The Indian government ministry responsible for youth affairs and sports.
Dr. Amar Singh: Member of Parliament who posed the question about grassroots sports development in Punjab.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya: The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports who provided the answer to the question.
Punjab: A state in India with focus on grassroots sports development.
Khelo India National Programme for Development of Sports: A national program by the Indian government for the development of sports.
National Sports Federations: Sports governing bodies in India that receive assistance from the government.
Sports Authority of India: An organization that runs sports training centers.
Patiala, Punjab: City in Punjab where a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) is located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1210
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Grassroots Sports Development in Punjab
1210. Dr. Amar Singh:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government agrees that in order to improve India’s
performance and medal tally in the Olympics, there is a pressing
need to focus on grassroots sports development, investment in
infrastructure and comprehensive support to athletes;
(b) if so, the details of the initiatives proposed or undertaken by the
Government, including schemes for early talent identification,
specialized coaching, foreign exposure, sports science support and
financial assistance for promising athletes;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has any special policy focus or
targeted programmes to engage and promote youth participation in
sports in Punjab; and
(e) if so, the details thereof including efforts to help Punjab to
contribute more gold medals at the national and international level?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)
(a) to (c): Yes, sir. The Government has taken various measures for
achieving excellence in sports in the country, including at the
grassroot level. ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of
development and encouragement of sports rests primarily with the
State/Union Territory Governments. The Central Government onlysupplements their efforts. However, this Ministry runs various
schemes for the promotion of sports across the country, including
Punjab. These schemes include:
(i) Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports;
(ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs);
(iii) Cash Incentives 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;
(viii) Running Sports Training centres through Sports Authority of
India (SAI); and
(ix) National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).
The details of these schemes are available in the public domain on
the website of the Ministry (https://yas.nic.in ).
(d) & (e): Several initiatives have been taken under Khelo India
Scheme to engage and promote youth participation in the country,
including the state of Punjab. Under the above Scheme, 29 Khelo
India Centres (KICs) have been established in the state of Punjab.
Punjab also has 01 Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for
Hockey, Boxing and Athletics. Additionally, Punjab has 24 Khelo
India Academies. Their details can be seen at
https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in/. SAI also runs 01 National
Centre of Excellence (NCoE) at Patiala and 3 SAI Training Centres
at Mustuana Sahib, Badal and Ludhiana in Punjab.
Further, under the component “Creation and Up-gradation of Sports
Infrastructure” of the Khelo India Scheme, 328 sports infrastructure
projects (including 12 in the state of Punjab at a cost of Rs. 106.19
crore) have been sanctioned across the country. Details of these
projects are available at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in/.
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