Parliament Question: Promotion of sports in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 160 ANSWERED ON- 29/01/2026 PROMOTION OF SPORTS IN MAHARASHTRA 160. SHRI DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state :- (a) whether Government has taken initiatives to promote sports and physical fitness in Maharashtra, including development of modern sports infrastructure, training academies, and grassroot talent identification programmes in urban and rural areas; (b) the steps being taken to encourage traditional and indigenous sports, increase participation of women and differently-abled athletes and provide scholarships or financial support to promising youth; and (c) the details of funds allocated, projects implemented, sports facilities upgraded, and achievements recorded in national and international competitions in the State during the last three years? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA) (a) to (c) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development sports, including development of modern sports infrastructure, training academies, grassroot talent identification, encouragement of traditional and indigenous sports, increasing participation of women and differently-abled athletes, providing scholarships or financial support to promising youth, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government 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 urban and rural areas of Maharashtra: (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. Details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India. Page 1 of 2The Fit India Movement was launched on 29th August, 2019, to encourage citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles through regular physical activities and sports. Its primary objectives are to inspire people to integrate fitness into their daily routines, raise awareness about the importance of health and wellness, and to foster community participation in fitness programs. The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved and their sanctioned cost, funds released and their physical and financial progress, under the Khelo India Scheme and National Sports Development Funds (NSDF), across the country, including in State of Maharashtra, are available in public domain on the dashboards of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html, respectively. The details of other sports facilities under Khelo India Scheme, viz. Khelo India Centres, Khelo India State Centres of Excellence and Khelo India Accredited Academies, across the country, including in State of Maharashtra, are available at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in. Further, the details of various sports facilities run by SAI, such as National Centres of Excellence (NCoE), Sports Training Centres (STC), Extension Centres of STCs, across the country, including in State of Maharashtra, are available at https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in. In addition, the ‘Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games’ sub- component of the Khelo India Scheme, is specifically dedicated to the development and promotion of rural and indigenous games in the country. Indigenous games like Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana and Silambam have been identified for promotion under this component and were made part of Khelo India Games. Funds are allocated Scheme-wise and not State-wise in this Ministry. The details of funds allocated under various Sports Development Schemes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports across the country, including in the State of Maharashtra, during the last three years are as under: (amount in ₹ crore) Financial Year Funds allocated 2024-25 2136.97 2023-24 2329.35 2022-23 1879.99 State-wise details of achievements recorded in national and international competitions is not maintained in this Ministry. ***** Page 2 of 2