Parliament Question: Khelo India centres in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2393 ANSWERED ON- 12/03/2026 KHELO INDIA CENTRES IN WEST BENGAL

2393. SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether out of 23 districts in West Bengal, only 13 districts have been covered under the Khelo India Centre scheme, leaving 10 districts uncovered;

(b) whether all existing Khelo India Centres in the State are functioning within Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and none has been established on land or district stadiums provided by the State Government;

(c) whether the Ministry has received adequate proposals, land offers or infrastructure support from the State for expansion of Khelo India Centres; and

(d) whether lack of cooperation or non-provision of land by the State Government has affected district-wise rollout of the scheme in the State? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (d) Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government only supplement their efforts by bridging critical gaps. 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 Khelo India Scheme is a demand-driven scheme. Under the Khelo India Scheme, 13 Khelo India Centres (KICs) have so far been notified in 13 districts of West Bengal in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. No additional proposal for expansion of Khelo India Centres, including proposals relating to land or infrastructure support, has been received so far from the State Government of West Bengal.

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