Parliament Question: Sports Development in Tribal Areas

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3672 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 Sports Development in Tribal Areas †3672. Shri Virendra Singh: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has any action plan to nurture the talent among the youths of the most backward tribal/forest areas of the country and to get it recognised at the national level and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether it is a fact that Children from tribal areas across the country are full of talent but due to lack of facilities, they are unable to participate in national sports competitions; (c) whether there are any plans to establish sports training centres in tribal-dominated districts and if so, the time by when it is likely to be done; (d) whether despite the availability of land in the tribal areas of Chandauli district in Uttar Pradesh, there are no sports grounds/stadia for sports such as archery, football, kabaddi, etc; and (e) whether the Government has any plans in this direction and if so, the fund is being allocated for this purpose and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ] (a) to (e) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility for development of sports, including identification, nurturing and development of sporting talent, creation of sports infrastructure and establishment of sports training facilities in the most backward Page 1 of 3tribal/forest areas, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements these efforts by bridging the 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 Uttar 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; 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. The Khelo India Scheme, implemented by this Ministry, under which financial assistance for development of sports infrastructure is provided is a demand-driven scheme. The proposals received from the State/ Union Territory Governments and other eligible entities are considered for financial support, subject to their completeness, technical feasibility and availability of funds under the scheme. 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) and coaches, across the country, including in Chandauli district in the State of Uttar 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 run by Sports Authority of India (SAI), such as National Centres of Excellence (NCoE), Sports Training Centres (STC), Extension Centres of STCs, along with athletes trained in these facilities, across the country, including in the State of Uttar Page 2 of 3Pradesh, are available in the public domain on the dashboard at https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in. ***** Page 3 of 3