**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 286, to be answered on February 2, 2026, regarding the promotion of water sports in India. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports details efforts to promote water sports through recognized National Sports Federations (NSFs), financial assistance, infrastructure development, and talent identification programs. There are no explicit action items or deadlines specified in the document.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Recognition of National Sports Federations (NSFs):**
* The Ministry has recognized the following NSFs to promote competitive water sports: Yachting Association of India (YAI), Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA), Swimming Federation of India (SFI), Rowing Federation of India (RFI), and Surfing Federation of India.
* These NSFs are mandated to organize national championships, conduct international sports events in India, and manage state-level sports competitions.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* The Ministry provides financial assistance to recognized NSFs through the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) via the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which acts as the Central Nodal Agency (CNA).
* The financial support covers athlete training, participation in international events, national championships, international tournaments in India, foreign coaches/support staff, and scientific/medical support.
* **Infrastructure Development:**
* The responsibility for developing sports infrastructure, including water sports, primarily rests with the State/Union Territory Governments, with the Central Government providing supplemental support.
* Under the Khelo India Scheme, 17 swimming pool projects have been sanctioned across the country.
* **Talent Identification and Training:**
* The Ministry, through SAI, has established National Centres of Excellence (NCOE), SAI Training Centres (STCs), and Extension Centres of STCs nationwide.
* These centers aim to identify talented sportspersons at the grassroots level across various age groups to nurture them to excel at national and international levels.
* **Annexures:**
* Annexure-I provides details of infrastructure development programs for water sports under the Khelo India Scheme and SAI.
* Annexure-II lists the NCOE, STCs, and Extension Centres of STCs for water sports across the country, including their respective disciplines.
**Impact Analysis**
* **National Sports Federations (NSFs)**
**Impact:** The NSFs are responsible for organizing sports competitions at the state and national levels.
**Action Required:** NSFs must continue their efforts to organize competitions and promote water sports.
* **State/Union Territory Governments**
**Impact:** State/UT Governments are primarily responsible for developing sports infrastructure for various sports including that for water sports.
**Action Required:** State/UT Governments need to develop and maintain water sports infrastructure.
* **Athletes**
**Impact:** Athletes are impacted by the development of infrastructure and the availability of talent identification and training programs.
**Action Required:** Athletes can participate in training programs.
* **Sports Authority of India (SAI)**
**Impact:** SAI acts as the Central Nodal Agency and manages the financial assistance to NSFs.
**Action Required:** SAI has to continue its efforts in promoting and nurturing sportspersons.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports: Primary ministry responsible for promoting water sports in India, as stated in the document.
Sports Authority of India (SAI): Central Nodal Agency through which the Ministry provides financial assistance and establishes sports infrastructure.
National Sports Federations (NSFs): Recognized bodies mandated to organize national championships and international sports events in India.
Khelo India Scheme: Scheme under which infrastructure projects for water sports, including swimming pools, have been sanctioned.
Maharashtra: Specifically called out in the document, along with Madhya Pradesh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli as locations where infrastructure projects are being implemented.
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Department of Sports
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Promotion of Water Sports
†286. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the efforts being made by the Government to promote
water sports like rowing, canoeing, sailing, kayaking and swimming in
the country;
(b) the details of the infrastructure development programmes in the
country specifically for water sports, including the establishment of
water sports centres, equipment distribution, and training facilities,
particularly in the States of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and Union
Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and
(c) the manner in which the Government is planning to bring water
sports to a level comparable to the popular sports like cricket in terms
of media popularity, sponsors and public participation, State/UT-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
[DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]
Page 1 of 6(a) to (c) For promotion of water sports in the country, the Ministry has
recognized the following National Sports Federations (NSFs), which are
mandated, inter alia, to organize national championships, conduct
international sports events in India and their State level affiliated units
being responsible for organizing sports competitions at State level, so
as to promote the culture of competitive sports:
(i) Yachting Association of India (YAI)
(ii) Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA)
(iii) Swimming Federation of India (SFI)
(iv) Rowing Federation of India (RFI)
(v) Surfing Federation of India
Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federation (ANSF)
this Ministry provides financial assistance to recognized National
Sports Federations (NSFs) through Sports Authority of India (SAI) which
is the Central Nodal Agency (CNA), for support for training of athletes,
participation in international events, conduct of national
championships, conduct of international tournaments in India,
engagement of foreign coaches/support staff, scientific & medical
support etc.
'Sports', being a state subject, the responsibility for development of
sports infrastructure for various sports including that for water sports
rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments, while the
Central Government supplements their efforts. Under the Khelo India
Scheme, 17 projects pertaining to Swimming Pools have been
sanctioned across the country. The details of infrastructure
development programmes, under Khelo India Scheme and SAI, in the
country for water sports are attached as Annexure-I.
This Ministry through SAI has established National Centres of
Excellence (NCOE), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Extension Centre of
STCs across the country to identify talented sportspersons at grassroot
levels in various age groups and nurture them to excel at national and
international levels. The list of NCOE, STCs, Extension Centre of STCs
for water sports across the country are attached as Annexure-II.
*****
Page 2 of 6Annexure-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286 TO BE ANSWERED ON
02.02.2026 REGARDING “PROMOTION OF WATER SPORTS” ASKED BY
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL, DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE, SMT.
DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI AND SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE.
i. Infrastructure Project sanctioned under Khelo India Scheme for water
sports
S. State/UT Name of the project
No.
1. Andhra Construction of swimming pool with water
Pradesh purifier at Adikavi Nannayya University,
Rajamahendravaram,District East Godavari
2. Bihar Construction of Swimming Pool at Saidpur
Campus, Patna University, District Patna
3. Bihar Construction of Swimming Pool at Bihar
Agricultural University, Sabour Campus,
District Bhagalpur
4. Bihar Construction Of Khelo India Olympic Size
Swimming Pool at IIT Patna Bihta Campus,
Patna
5. Gujarat Construction of Swimming Pool at Swarnim
Gujarat Sports University, Valavav, District
Vadodara
6. Haryana Construction of All Weather Olympic size
Swimming Pool at Kurukshetra University,
District Kurukshetra
7. Karnataka Construction of Swimming Pool in Sri
Jayaprakash Narayana National Youth Training
Centre Vidyanagar, District Bengaluru
8. Madhya Construction of Swimming pool at SAI Central
Pradesh Regional Centre, District Bhopal
Page 3 of 6S. State/UT Name of the project
No.
9. Madhya Construction of Swimming Pool at Indira
Pradesh Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU),
District Anuppur
10. Mah arashtra Construction of Swimming Pool at SAI Western
Training Centre, District Aurangabad
11. Mah arashtra Upgradation of Olympic Swimming Parking
Ground at Municipal Council Katol, District
Nagpur
12. Man ipur Construction of Swimming Pool with RCC
Gallery, toilet, change room at District
Bishnupur Headquarters
13. Odis ha Construction of Swimming Pool at District
Hqrs., District Boudh
14. Pudu cherry Construction of Swimming Pool at Saradambal
Nagar, District Puducherry
15. Tam il Nadu Construction of Swimming Pool at Tamil Nadu
Physical Education and Sports University,
Melakottaiyur, Chennai, District Chengalpattu
16. Tela ngana Construction of Swimming pool for women at
Osmania University, District Hyderabad
17. Tripu ra Construction of Swimming Pool at Regional
College of Physical Education (RCPE),
Panisagar, District North Tripura
ii. Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under SAI for water sports
S.
State Name of Work
No
Construction of Aquatic complex at Regional
1 Gujarat
Centre Gandhinagar
Uttar Construction of Learners Swimming pool at
2
Pradesh Netaji Subhas Regional Centre Lucknow
Indoor swimming pool 25X25 mtr. size at
3 Punjab
National Institute of Sports Patiala
Page 4 of 6New Boat House and Floating Jetty at SAI
4 Kerala
Special Area Games (SAG) Alleppey
*****
Page 5 of 6Annexure-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286 TO BE ANSWERED ON
02.02.2026 REGARDING “PROMOTION OF WATER SPORTS” ASKED BY
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL, DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE, SMT.
DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI AND SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE.
NCOE, STCs, Extension Centre of STCs for water sports across the
country
Scheme Centre(s) Discipline(s)
NCOE Bhopal Kayaking & Canoeing
NCOE Jagatpur Kayaking & Canoeing
NCOE Jagatpur Rowing
STC Port Blair Kayaking & Canoeing
STC Port Blair Rowing
STC Bilaspur Kayaking & Canoeing
STC Bilaspur Rowing
Extension Centre
Dal Lake, Srinagar Kayaking & Canoeing
of STC
STC Agartala Swimming
STC Yanam Swimming
STC Trichur Swimming
Dr Syama Prasad
Mookerjee
NCOE Swimming
Swimming Pool
Complex, New Delhi
*****
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