Parliament Question: Sports Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 Sports Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu

3730. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has identified districts in Tamil Nadu for the development of rural and district-level sports facilities especially in Tirunelveli Lok Sabha Constituency, under the Khelo India or Sports Infrastructure Development schemes;

(b) the criteria adopted for selecting of such districts and the details of funds allocated during the last three years and the current year, district/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to establish additional sports training centres or academies in Tamil Nadu to promote athletics and indigenous games;

(d) whether the Government, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and national bodies such as National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and University Grants Commission

(UGC), proposes to integrate structured physical education and sports science modules into school and university curricula, particularly to enhance sports participation and awareness in rural areas; and

(e) 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 of development Page 1 of 3of sports, including identification of districts for the development of rural and district-level sports facilities, establishment of additional sports training centres or academies to promote athletics and indigenous games, rests primarily with the 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 development of sports in the country, including in the State

of Tamil Nadu: 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 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 proposals received from the State/ UT Government 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 the sports infrastructure projects approved under the Khelo India Scheme and NSDF, across the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu, are available in the public domain on the dashboards of

the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in. and

http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html.

Funds are allocated Scheme-wise and not district/UT-wise under the Khelo India Scheme in this Ministry. The details of funds allocated under Page 2 of 3Khelo India Scheme, during the last three years and the current year across the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu, are as under:

(₹ in crore) Financial Year Funds allocated 2025-26 700.00 2024-25 746.54 2023-24 880.00 2022-23 600.00

(d) and (e) The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, is implementing the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, which promotes sports and physical education as an integral part of the curriculum for holistic development. To operationalize NEP, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) has been introduced, and National Council of Educational Research and Training

(NCERT) has developed dedicated Physical Education textbooks integrating sports, fitness, yoga and healthy lifestyles into school education.

Further, under the Samagra Shiksha scheme and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Health and Physical Education programme, sports and physical activities have been made compulsory in schools.

These initiatives aim to enhance sports participation and awareness among students across the country, including in rural areas. ***** Page 3 of 3