Parliament Question: Sports infrastructure in J&K

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1599 ANSWERED ON- 12/02/2026 SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE IN J&K 1599. SHRI SAJJAD AHMAD KICHLOO Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state :- (a) the district-wise status of sports infrastructure, coaching staff and funding in J&K; (b) the number of playgrounds, indoor halls and hostels sanctioned, completed or pending since 2021; (c) the steps taken to ensure transparent selections for scholarships, Khelo India scheme and National Camps; (d) the measures taken to revive defunct facilities in rural and border areas and timelines with budgetary allocations to bridge regional disparities, especially in Chenab region; and (e) the details of employment provided since 2021 in the UT to sportsmen, coaches and allied staff, including contractual, district-wise and the pending cases? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA) (a) to (e) Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including development of sports infrastructure, coaching staff and funding, playgrounds, indoor halls and hostels etc., ensure transparent selections for scholarships and National Camps, taking measures to revive defunct facilities in rural and border areas and providing employment to sportsmen, coaches and allied staff, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements their efforts by bridging critical gaps. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports implements the following schemes for development of sports in the country, including in the Union Territory of J&K: 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). Page 1 of 5Details 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 and National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), implemented by this Ministry, under which financial assistance for development of sports infrastructure is provided are demand-driven schemes.The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved and their sanctioned cost and funds released under the Khelo India Scheme and NSDF, across the country, including in the Union Territory of J&K, are available in the public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in. and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html. The details of all 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), across the country, including in the Union Territory of J&K, 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, across the country, including in in the Union Territory of J&K, are available in the public domain on the dashboard at https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in. Funds are allocated Scheme-wise and not district-wise in this Ministry. The details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred under various Sports Development Schemes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports across the country, including in the Union Territory of J&K, since 2021 are as under: (amount in ₹ crore) Financial Year Funds allocated Expenditure incurred 2024-25 2332.50 2136.97 2023-24 2380.86 2329.35 2022-23 1907.69 1879.99 2021-22 1993.00 1748.76 Further, an amount of Rs. 195.05 crore has been released for various sports projects sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for Enhancement of sports facilities at J&K. The details of these projects are at Annexure – I. The identification process for a Khelo India Athlete is based on specific guidelines and benchmarks laid down in the protocols. In consonance with these protocols, a specialised committee, namely the Talent Identification and Development Committee (TIDC), comprising Olympians, prominent athletes, eminent coaches and representatives from NSFs, identifies athletes based on laid down procedures and benchmarks for each sport. Selection of sportspersons for participation in National Camps is carried out in a transparent, objective and merit-based manner in accordance with prescribed guidelines. Detailed instructions in this regard have been issued, stipulating clearly defined eligibility criteria, performance benchmarks, age and competition norms and sport-specific requirements. Selection of sportspersons is primarily the mandate of the National Sports Federations (NSFs). The selection is undertaken by duly constituted Selection Committees of NSFs, comprising experts and technical officials of the concerned sports disciplines. The process is based on verifiable competition results, rankings and performance data and is conducted through digital platforms, wherever applicable, to ensure transparency, traceability and objectivity. Page 2 of 5Under the Khelo India Scheme’s sub-component, Khelo India Games, the Khelo India Winter Games were launched in 2020 to inspire and motivate youth in J&K to participate in sports such as Alpine skiing, skating and ice-hockey. Communities in remote villages are participating in these sports with the aspiration to represent their States and subsequently India at the international level. So far, five editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been conducted with the participation of more than 4,500 athletes, and the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival was organised in Srinagar at Dal Lake in 2025. In J&K, 80 Past Champion Athletes (PCAs) are engaged across 100 Khelo India Centres (KICs). District-wise details of the same are at Annexure – II. Since 2021, a total of four coaches from J&K have been appointed in SAI in various disciplines. Additionally, 01 Administrative staff, 01 Grounds man and 02 Safai Karamcharis have also been appointed on contract basis since 2021 in STC Jammu. Page 3 of 5ANNEXURE – I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1599 ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 REGARDING SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE IN J&K ASKED BY SHRI SAJJAD AHMAD KICHLOO, HON’BLE MP, RAJYA SABHA Details of various sports projects sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) (Amount in Rs. Crore) S. No. Projects Amount Released 1. Renovation and Development of Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar to FIFA 37.68 Standard 2. Renovation and Development of Maulana Azad (M.A.) Stadium, Jammu 43.80 to ICC Standard for international cricket matches 3. Construction of 22 Multipurpose Hall (4 crore each) 85.57 i. Sehpora Ganderbal ii. Ramnagar, Udhampur iii. ShadiporaSumbal, Bandipora iv. Billawar, Kathua v. Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu vi. Samba vii. Qaimoh, Kulgam viii. Bijbehara, Anantnag ix. Tral, Pulwama x. Budgam xi. Ellahibagh, Srinagar xii. Handwara, Kupwara xiii. Koteranka, Rajouri xiv. Reasi xv. Rajpora, Pulwama xvi. Doda xvii. Mir GundPattan, Baramulla xviii. Kubathang, Kargil (Ladakh) xix. Mandi, Poonch xx. Kishtwar xxi. Shopian xxii. Gool, Ramban 4. Up gradation of existing stadia at Rajouri and Poonch 4.00 5. Up gradation/ Completion of Subhash stadium at Udhampur, Jammu 10.00 6. Development of water sports infrastructure at Jammu and Srinagar 6.00 (Nehru Park, Srinagar & Ranjit Sagar Dam, Basohli) 7. Lighting Syatem at TRC Ground/ Gani Stadium 2.63 8. Sports equipment, coaches/trainers etc. 5.37 Total 195.05 Page 4 of 5ANNEXURE – II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1599 ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 REGARDING SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE IN J&K ASKED BY SHRI SAJJAD AHMAD KICHLOO, HON’BLE MP, RAJYA SABHA S. No. Name of District Number of Coaches 1. Anantnag 3 2. Badgam 4 3. Bandipore 4 4. Baramula 4 5. Doda 4 6. Ganderbal 5 7. Jammu 4 8. Kathua 5 9. Kishtwar 5 10. Kulgam 3 11. Kupwara 5 12. Pulwama 2 13. Punch 5 14. Rajouri 3 15. Ramban 5 16. Reasi 3 17. Samba 4 18. Shupiyan 5 19. Srinagar 3 20. Udhampur 4 Total 80 ***** Page 5 of 5