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Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Department of Sports
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4915
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026
Khelo India Mission in Assam
4915. SHRI PARIMAL SUKLABAIDYA:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has prepared any district-wise
implementation plan under the Khelo India Mission for the State of
Assam, particularly for Cachar district in Barak Valley;
(b) the details of sports infrastructure projects sanctioned, approved or
under consideration in Cachar district during the last three years and the
current year along with the funds allocated and released under the said
mission;
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to strengthen
grassroots sports talent identification and coaching facilities in rural and
tea garden areas of Cachar district; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to establish a Khelo India Centre,
Sports Science Centre or residential sports academy in the said district
and if so, the timeline therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
[ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ]
(a) The Khelo India Mission, announced in Budget 2026–27, envisages a
national framework for promotion of sports and strengthening of the
sports ecosystem across the country, including the State of Assam and
Cachar district in Barak Valley.
(b) and (c) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of
development of sports, including development of sports infrastructure
Page 1 of 2and strengthening grassroots sports talent identification and coaching
facilities, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments.
The Union Government supplements their efforts by bridging critical
gaps. The Khelo India Scheme and National Sports Development Fund
(NSDF), implemented by this Ministry, under which financial assistance
for development of sports infrastructure is provided are demand-driven
schemes. The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved and
their sanctioned cost and funds released under the Khelo India Scheme
and NSDF, across the country, including in the State of Assam, are
available in the public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at
https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in. and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-
glance.html.
Under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the identification of
sporting talent at the grassroots level is undertaken through a
systematic and multi-tiered mechanism under the Sports Authority of
India (SAI) and the Khelo India Scheme. Under SAI Sports Promotional
Schemes, talent is scouted through competitions at district, state,
national and international levels, followed by selection trials, battery of
tests, anthropometric measurements, physiological and psychological
assessments, medical check-up, age verification and evaluation of future
potential, as applicable under the respective schemes.
Further, under the Khelo India Scheme, talent identification and
development is a continuous process. Talent Identification and
Development Committees comprising eminent athletes, coaches,
experts and representatives of concerned stakeholders identify
promising athletes during competitions such as Khelo India Games and
National Championships on the basis of sport-specific benchmarks.
Grassroots talent scouting is also supported through Khelo India Centres
established at the district level, where Past Champion Athletes serve as
mentors and scouts.
(d) There is no such proposal under consideration in this Ministry.
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