Parliament Question: Promotion of Traditional Indigenous Sports

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †41 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 Promotion of Traditional Indigenous Sports †41. Shri Anoop Pradhan Valmiki: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) whether some major sports receive greater attention and resources, while several nonmainstream and traditional indigenous sports witness limited participation among the youth; (b) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote these sports at school, college and community levels through infrastructure, financial assistance and talent identification; (c) whether the Government proposes to introduce any special schemes or incentives to boost participation of youth in sports; (d) the measures being taken by the Government to provide players of such traditional sports with international training, scientific support and appropriate guidance for global sport competitions; and (e) whether any long-term strategy has been formulated to enhance India's global competitiveness and performance in these sports and if so, the details thereof? 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 traditional and indigenous sports at school, college and community level through infrastructure, provision of financial assistance, talent identification, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Page 1 of 2Government supplements these 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 traditional and indigenous games, and to encourage greater participation of youth in sports: (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; (v) 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. (d) 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 sports in the country. Financial assistance is provided for conduct of competitions, training programmes, awareness activities and other promotional initiatives to encourage wider participation at the school, college and community levels. (e) The Government’s long-term approach is to strengthen the sports ecosystem from grassroots to elite level through the Khelo India Scheme, assistance to National Sports Federations, sports infrastructure development, talent identification, scientific training and competition exposure. The objective is to promote a wider sporting culture, preserve and popularise indigenous games, develop athletes in identified disciplines and improve India’s performance at national and international levels. ***** Page 2 of 2