**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 2488 in the Lok Sabha regarding inadequate sports infrastructure in Lakshadweep, to be answered on 15.12.2025. It outlines the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports' stance on sports infrastructure development in the Union Territory. The response clarifies the roles of the State/Union Territory Governments versus the Union Government in funding and development, and provides expenditure data.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibility for Sports Development:**
* ‘Sports’ is primarily a State subject; therefore, the responsibility for the development, modernisation, or upgrading of sports infrastructure, including construction of indoor stadiums, outdoor grounds, swimming facilities and youth training centres, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments.
* **Union Government's Role:**
* The Union Government supplements the efforts of State/UT Governments by bridging critical gaps.
* Schemes of the Ministry are demand-driven. Proposals received from State/UT Governments and eligible entities are considered for financial support subject to completeness, technical feasibility, and availability of funds.
* **Access to Information:**
* Details of other sports facilities such as Khelo India Centres (KIC), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) and Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAA) across the country, including in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, are available on the Ministry's dashboard.
* **Funding Details:**
* Funds are allocated and released Scheme-wise, not State-wise.
* Financial data for the last three years (2022-23 to 2024-25) and the current year (2025-26) regarding funds allocated and expenditure incurred under various Sports and Youth Development Schemes across the country, including for Lakshadweep, are provided.
* For 2025-26, the funds allocated were ₹3794.30 crore, and the expenditure incurred (as of 08.12.2025) was ₹2268.33 crore.
**Impact Analysis**
**Lakshadweep Administration**
* **Impact:** The Lakshadweep Administration is responsible for initiating and proposing sports infrastructure development projects. They are also responsible for executing the projects, ensuring they meet the requirements of the Union Government's schemes.
* **Action Required:** Submit well-developed, technically feasible proposals to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for financial support, keeping in mind that funding is demand-driven and subject to the availability of funds under the relevant schemes.
**Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports**
* **Impact:** The Ministry provides supplemental support and funding for sports infrastructure development based on demand and available resources.
* **Action Required:** Continue to evaluate proposals from the Lakshadweep Administration based on completeness, technical feasibility, and fund availability, allocating funds according to scheme guidelines. Maintain transparency by ensuring relevant information is available on the Ministry's dashboard.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports: The central government ministry responsible for sports and youth development, answering questions about sports infrastructure in Lakshadweep.
Lakshadweep: The Union Territory of India, which is the specific geographic location the policy and question address in regards to sports infrastructure.
Khelo India: A national programme for the development of sports in India, which might be used to allocate funds to Lakshadweep
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Department of Sports
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2488
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
Inadequate Sports Infrastructure in Lakshadweep
2488. Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the inadequate sports
infrastructure and limited training facilities available in various islands
of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep;
(b) whether any proposals have been received from the Lakshadweep
Administration for the development, modernisation or upgradation of
sports infrastructure, including construction of indoor stadiums, outdoor
grounds, swimming facilities and youth training centres;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the current status of the said proposals;
(d) whether the Government proposes to allocate additional funds or
extend special assistance to Lakshadweep under Khelo India scheme or
other central schemes for improving sports facilities and nurturing local
talent; and
(e) the time by which the proposed sports infrastructure development in
Lakshadweep is expected to be implemented?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
[ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ]
(a) to (e) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of
development of sports, including development, modernisation or
upgradation of sports infrastructure, including construction of indoor
stadiums, outdoor grounds, swimming facilities and youth training
centres, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments.
Page 1 of 2The Union Government supplements their efforts by bridging critical
gaps. The schemes of this Ministry are demand driven. The proposals
received from the State/ UT Government and other eligible entities are
considered for financial support, subject to their completeness,
technical feasibility and availability of funds under the scheme. The
details of other sports facilities such as Khelo India Centres (KIC),
Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) and Khelo India
Accredited Academies (KIAA), across the country, including in the
Union Territory of Lakshadweep, are available in the public domain on
the dashboard of the Ministry at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in.
Funds are allocated and released Scheme-wise and not State-wise in
this Ministry. The details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred
under various Sports and Youth Development Schemes of the Ministry
of Youth Affairs and Sports across the country, including for the Union
Territory of Lakshadweep, during the last three years and the current
year are as under:
(amount in ₹ crore)
Financial Funds Expenditure incurred
Year allocated
2025-26 3794.30 2268.33
(as on 08.12.2025)
2024-25 3232.85 2833.05
2023-24 3396.96 3024.04
2022-23 2673.35 2568.49
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