Parliament Question: Promotion of Traditional and Indigenous Games

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5879 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 Promotion of Traditional and Indigenous Games 5879. MS KANGNA RANAUT: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken initiatives to promote women’s participation, sports for persons with disabilities along with indigenous and traditional games under Khelo India and allied schemes; (b) the details of competitions, training programmes and infrastructure supported in the country, State/UT-wise, particularly for Himachal Pradesh; and (c) the manner in which the said initiatives are contributing to social inclusion, cultural preservation and wider participation in sports? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ] (a) to (c) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility for development of sports, including promotion of women’s participation, sports for persons with disabilities, and indigenous and traditional games, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government only 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 the State of Himachal Pradesh: 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; Page 1 of 2v. 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). Details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India. Under the Khelo India Scheme, dedicated provisions exist for encouraging women’s participation through reservation of slots for girls in competitions, athlete development programmes and sports training facilities. Sports for persons with disabilities are promoted through inclusion in competitive events and support under athlete development components. Indigenous and traditional games are also promoted through inclusion of disciplines such as Silambam, Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Yogasana, Gatka and Thang-Ta in national-level competitions organised under Khelo India. The details of various sports facilities under the Khelo India Scheme, such as Sports Infrastructure, Khelo India Centres (KIC), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) and Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAA) along with Khelo India Athletes (KIA), across the country, including in the State of Himachal Pradesh, are available in the public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in. The details of various sports facilities, provided assistance under National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), across the country, including in the State of Himachal Pradesh, are available in the public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf- glance.html. These initiatives contribute to social inclusion by expanding access to sports among women, rural youth and persons with disabilities; support cultural preservation by promoting indigenous and traditional sports disciplines; and broaden participation in sports through decentralized infrastructure, regular competitions and athlete development pathways across the country. **** Page 2 of 2