Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 115 regarding sports science, medicine support, infrastructure upgrades, equitable access, and private investment in sports. The government aims to strengthen support systems for elite athletes, upgrade SAI training centers, ensure equitable access, and attract private investment through public-private partnerships. This statement outlines the steps taken and planned in these areas.
Key Points / Main Content:
Sports Science and Medicine Support:
* The Government is focused on providing comprehensive, technologically advanced, and evidence-based services to athletes through the National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR).
* NCSSR operates with a hub-and-spoke model, with the main center at SAI New Delhi, supporting 11 National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) and 2 High-Performance Centres (HPC).
* The ministry supports establishing Sports Science and Sports Medicine Departments in selected Universities/Institutions and Medical Colleges.
* Expert professionals are deployed across NCOEs for holistic and scientific care.
* The Khelo India program supports infrastructure and manpower, with each NCOE having a dedicated Sports Science and Medicine Unit.
* Financial assistance is provided to TOPS athletes for rehabilitation and injury management.
SAI Training Centers (STC) Upgrades:
* Restructuring of SAI Training Centres (STCs) is underway to improve athlete development.
* Emphasis on strengthening existing centers' capabilities.
* Financial norms have been raised for athletes in 2024.
* Funds earmarked for foreign competition exposure for NCOE/STC athletes.
* Sports infrastructure development/sanctioned since 2014-15 is detailed in Annexure I.
Equitable Access:
* Promotion of sports is primarily the responsibility of State and Union Territory Governments.
* The Union Government supplements these efforts through various schemes available to all athletes, including those from marginalized communities.
* Schemes include Khelo India, assistance to NSFs, cash awards to medal winners, national sports awards, pension schemes, and running STCs through SAI.
* Details of these schemes are available at https:yas.gov.in.
Private Investment and Corporate Sponsorships:
* The Government is actively working to attract private investment and corporate sponsorships in sports infrastructure and athlete support through public-private partnerships.
* Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds are received through the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
* The Ministry participates in CSR Conclaves and events (details provided for 2023-2024).
* CSR funds received in NSDF during the last three years are detailed in Annexure II.
Impact Analysis:
Athletes:
* Impact: Improved access to sports science, medicine, training facilities, and financial support, leading to enhanced performance and well-being.
* Action Required: Utilize available resources and programs to maximize their potential.
SAI Training Centers (STCs):
* Impact: Upgraded facilities and focused development programs.
* Action Required: Implement restructuring plans and effectively utilize increased financial resources.
State and Union Territory Governments:
* Impact: Continued primary responsibility for sports promotion with supplementary support from the Union Government.
* Action Required: Continue to promote sports at the local level, leveraging available central government schemes.
Corporates and PSUs:
* Impact: Opportunity to contribute to sports development through CSR funds via the NSDF.
* Action Required: Explore opportunities to invest in sports infrastructure and athlete support through the NSDF.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The central government ministry responsible for sports and youth affairs in India. Implementing various sports promotional schemes across the country.
Sports Authority of India: A governmental sports organization in India responsible for promoting sports and training athletes. Manages training centers (SAI Training Centres STCs) and National Centres of Excellence (NCOE).
National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research: A scheme and a physical center (NCSSR) established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to support high-level research, education, and innovation in sports science for elite athletes.
Khelo India National Programme for Development of Sports: A sports promotional scheme by Ministry of Youth Affairs Sports to promote sports at the grassroot level. It focuses on infrastructure development and manpower training.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme: A scheme (TOPS) that provides financial assistance to elite athletes with the aim of winning medals at the Olympic Games.
Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi: Location of the Hub of NCSSR.
National Sports Development Fund: A fund (NSDF) under which contributions from Corporates and PSUs is received by the Ministry in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility CSR funds towards development of Sports
LNIPE Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh: Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior. One of the locations for construction of Hostels using CSR funds.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.*115
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Sports Science and Medicine Support Systems for Athletes
*115. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the Government is planning to strengthen the
sports science and sports medicine support systems, particularly
for elite athletes preparing for international competitions such as
the Olympics and Asian Games;
(b) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to expand
and upgrade the facilities at the Sports Authority of India (SAI)
training centres;
(c) whether the Government is ensuring equitable access for athletes
from marginalized communities and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government is working to attract private investment
and corporate sponsorships in sports infrastructure development
and athlete support through public-private partnerships; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
[DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) to (E) OF THE
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *115 FOR 28.07.2025 ASKED
BY SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL REGARDING SPORTS SCIENCE AND
MEDICINE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR ATHLETES
(a) The Government is focused on providing comprehensive,
technologically advanced, and evidence-based services to athletes.
The scheme of National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research
(NCSSR), run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government
of India, aims to support high-level research, education and
innovation with respect to the high performance of elite athletes.
Under the Scheme, this Ministry has set up the NCSSR at Indira
Gandhi Sports Complex, Sports Authority of India (SAI), New Delhi as
the Hub and supports by providing sports science equipment to SAI’s
11 National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) and 2 High-Performance
Centres (HPC), which act as Spokes. Further, this Ministry also
supports the setting up of the Sports Sciences Department and
Sports Medicine Department in the six selected
Universities/Institutions and five Medical Colleges respectively,
across the country. The NCSSR is equipped with specialized
laboratories in biomechanics, physiology, recovery science,
performance analytics, and other emerging domains. Expert
professionals including physiotherapists, biomechanists, sports
psychologists, strength and conditioning coaches, anthropometrist
and nutritionists are deployed across National Centres of Excellence
to ensure holistic and scientific-personalized care for athletes. The
Government is focused on providing comprehensive, technologically
advanced, and evidence-based services through the National Centre
of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR).
Further, financial investments under the Khelo India programme
support infrastructure and manpower, with each National Centre of
Excellence operating a dedicated Sports Science and Medicine Unit
linked to SAI's Athlete Welfare Division for strong governance.
Also, under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) the Govt.
provides financial assistance to TOPS Athletes ensuring best
possible rehabilitation and injury management.(b) The Government has undertaken an exercise of restructuring
SAI Training Centres (STCs) to ensure more focused and effective
development of athletes. Given the existing sports infrastructure and
financial considerations, the emphasis is currently on strengthening
the capabilities of the existing centres to drive excellence in sports.
Following steps have been taken to upgrade the facilities at existing
STCs:
i) Financial norms have been raised for athletes in 2024.
ii) Foreign competition exposure head of Rs.15.00 crores has been
earmarked for NCOE & STC athletes.
iii) To expand and upgrade the facilities at the Sports Authority of
India (SAI) training centres, the details of Sports Infrastructure
developed/sanctioned since 2014-15 is provided at Annexure – I.
(c) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the primary responsibility for
promotion of sports in the country lies with the respective State and
Union Territory Governments. The Union Government plays a
supplementary role in supporting these efforts. However, to support
the efforts of State Governments, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
is implementing the following Sports Promotional Schemes across
the country for all athletes including those from marginalized
communities:
(i) Khelo India- National Programme for Development of Sports
(ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs)
(iii) Cash Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events
and their Coaches
(iv) National Sports Awards
(v) Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons
(vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Sports Welfare Scheme
(vii) National Sports Development Fund
(viii) Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of
India (SAI)
The details of the above schemes are available in public domain and
can be seen at https://yas.gov.in/.
(d) & (e) Yes, the Government is working to attract private
investment and corporate sponsorships in sports infrastructuredevelopment and athlete support through public-private partnerships.
Under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), contribution
from Corporates and PSUs is received to the Ministry in the form of
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds towards development of
Sports. For this purpose, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
participates in several CSR Conclave and other events. The details of
participation in such CSR Conclave and other events in the last 3
years are as follows:
(i) CSR Conclave organized by the department of Public
Enterprise - 25th-26th September, 2023.
(ii) Sports India Expo organized by the Physical Education
Foundation of India - 14th -16th Dec, 2023.
(iii) Sporting India Sports Carnival, 2024 at Coimbatore - 16th-
17th March, 2024.
The details of CSR funds received in National Sports Development
Fund (NSDF) during the last three years are given at Annexure-II.
***ANNEXURE – I
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (B) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *115 FOR ANSWER ON 28.07.2025
REGARDING SPORTS SCIENCE AND MEDICINE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
FOR ATHLETES, ASKED BY SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL, HON’BLE
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
The details of Sports Infrastructure developed/sanctioned since
2014-15
Fund
S. Type of Allocated
Name of Work State
No Infrastructure (amount
in Crore)
Year 2024-25
Replacement of
Synthetic Athletic
Field of Play
1 Track with allied Punjab 12.21
(FOP)
works at SAI NS NIS
Patiala
Year 2023-24
Construction of low-
cost Multipurpose Multipurpose
2 Gujarat 4.37
Hall at SAI NSWC Hall
Gandhinagar
Re-laying of Hockey
Turf (Blue) with allied Field of Play
3 Karnataka 7.88
works at SAI NSSC (FOP)
Bangalore.
Year - 2022-23
Establishment of
Sports
Integrated High
4 Haryana Science 72.09
Performance Centre
Centre
at SAI NCOE Sonepat
Year 2021-22
Construction of
Field of Play
5 Fencing Hall at Maharashtra 1.98
(FOP)
National centre ofExcellence,
Aurangabad
Year – 2020-21
Construction of
Field of Play
6 Squash Courts at New Delhi 5.52
(FOP)
MDCNS
Laying of Synthetic
Synthetic
Athletics Track and
7 Karnataka Athletics 13.86
other field facilities
Track
at Bangalore
Construction of 330
8 Bedded hostel at SAI Karnataka Residential 29.46
NSSC Bangalore
Construction of 300
9 Bedded Hostel at IG New Delhi Residential 29.48
Stadium
laying of Synthetic
10 Hockey Turf at STC Jharkhand Hockey Turf 8.57
Hazaribagh
Construction of 300
11 Bedded Hostel at Dr. New Delhi Residential 29.3
KSSR
Construction of 400
Bedded Hostel at
12 NSWC, Sports Gujarat Residential 30.28
Complex,
Gandhinagar
Construction of 120
Bedded hostel – cum
Arunachal Residential-
13 – Integrated sports 26.72
Pradesh cum- FOP
complex at NCOE,
Itanagar
Construction of
Archery centre of
Excellence including Archery
14 Haryana 4.96
High Performance Centre
Lab with Allied
facilities at SonepatReplacement of
Existing Synthetic Synthetic
15 Haryana 4.75
Hockey turf at SAI Hockey turf
NRC, Sonepat
Establishment of
Integrated Sports Sports
16 Science Centre and Punjab Science 30.33
conditioning hall at Centre
SAI NS NIS Patiala
Construction of
centralized kitchen Kitchen and
17 Punjab 7.51
and Food Court at NS Food Court
NIS Patiala
Year - 2019-20
Laying of 200
Synthetic
Synthetic Athletic Himachal
18 Athletic 3.1
Tracks at SAI Centre, Pradesh
Tracks
Shillaroo
Laying of Synthetic
Athletic track (Full) Synthetic
19 Type 8 lane at SAI, Kerala Athletic 7.47
LNCPE, Tracks
Thiruvanthapuram
Construction of 300
Bedded hostel with Madhya
20 Residential 26.82
Double occupancy at Pradesh
SAI, Bhopal
Construction of 300
Bedded hostel
21 Haryana Residential 26.77
double occupancy at
Sonepat
Construction of 300
22 Bedded hostel at SAI Kerala Residential 34.8
LNCPE Trivandrum
Construction of 300
23 Bedded hostel at SAI Manipur Residential 38.57
Imphal
Construction of Uttar
24 FOP 7.72
Wrestling Hall at SAI PradeshRegional Centre
Lucknow
Construction of 300
Bedded hostel (Triple
25 Punjab Residential 26.77
Occupancy) at NIS
Patiala
Construction of 300
Bedded hostel (Triple Uttar
26 Residential 26.77
Occupancy) at RC Pradesh
Lucknow
Construction of 300
Bedded hostel (Triple
27 West Bengal Residential 26.77
Occupancy) at
Kolkata
Construction of 300
Bedded hostel (Triple
28 Karnataka Residential 27.06
occupancy) at RC
Bangalore
Construction of 300
bedded hostel at
29 Maharashtra Residential 26.77
(Triple Occupancy)
at STC Aurangabad
Construction of 300
Bedded hostel(Triple
30 Maharashtra Residential 26.77
Occupancy) at SAI
PUNE
Year 2018-19
Development of
Playfields in different
31 Govt. Schools in Rajasthan FoPs 8.85
Rajasthan (17
locations)
Development of Gym
Halls Govt. Schools
32 Rajasthan GYM Halls 3.06
in Jaipur, Rajasthan
(17 locations)
Retro fittings work of
33 existing RCC New Delhi Ancilliary 3.7
structure of oldGymnastic Hall and
AC plant, IGS
Year 2017-18
Construction of 162
bedded hostel for
34 New Delhi Residential 12.26
National campers at
KSSR at New Delhi
Construction of 100
bedded hostel for
35 Haryana Residential 8.33
National campers at
NRC Sonepat
Construction of 150
36 bedded hostel at Punjab Residential 12.88
NSNIS Patiala
Construction of 100
Madhya
37 bedded hostel at SAI Residential 11.29
Pradesh
CRC Bhopal
Replacement of 2
synthetic hockey
38 New Delhi FoP 8.14
surface at MDCNS
New Delhi
Laying of Synthetic
Hockey surface in Madhya
39 FoP 4.68
field no. 2 at CRC Pradesh
Bhopal
Construction of
Modern Change room Changing
40 Karnataka 4.41
Complex at Room
Bangalore
Construction of 100
bedded Girls hostel
41 Puducherry Residential 11.8
at SAI STC
Puducherry
Laying of 8 lane
Synthetic Athletic
42 Assam FoP 7.86
Track at SAG Centre
Kokrajhar, AssamLaying of Synthetic
Hockey Turf at SAG
43 Assam FoP 6.26
Centre Kokrajhar
Assam.
Laying of 8 lane
Synthetic Athletic
44 Nagaland FoP 7
Track at SAI STC
Dimapur
Replacement of
Synthetic Athletic
45 New Delhi FoP 7.37
Track at JLN
Stadium
Laying of Synthetic
46 Football Turf at SAI Manipur FoP 5
NERC Imphal
Construction of MP
47 Hall at SAI RC Haryana MP Hall 8
Sonepat
Construction of MP
48 Hall at SAI RC Maharashtra MP Hall 8
Mumbai
Construction of MP
49 Hall at SAI RC Karnataka MP Hall 8
Bangalore
Archery Ground at
50 Meghalaya FoP 1.48
NEHU Shillong
Football ground and
Synthetic Athletic
51 Meghalaya FoP 4.87
Track at NEHU
Shillong
Construction of 100
Bedded Hostel for
52 Meghalaya Residential 4.56
Boys at NEHU
Shillong
Construction of 100
Bedded Hostel for
53 Meghalaya Residential 4.07
girls at NEHU
ShillongConstruction of MP
54 Indoor Hall at NEHU Meghalaya MP Hall 9.19
Shillong
Replacement of
Synthetic Hockey
55 West Bengal FoP 4.68
surface at NSEC
Kolkata
Replacement of
Synthetic Athletic
56 West Bengal FoP 6.1
Track at NSEC
Kolkata
Replacement of
Synthetic Athletic
57 Uttarakhand FoP 8.03
Track at LBSNAA
Mussoriee
Laying of Synthetic
Football Turf at SAI
58 Mizoram FoP 5
SAG Centre
Thenzwal Mizoram
Laying of Synthetic 8
lane Athletic Track
59 Assam FoP 7
at SAI STC Tinsukia
Assam
Construction of
Swimming Pool
Madhya
60 25X16 mtr. and allied FoP 3.39
Pradesh
facilities at CRC
Bhopal
Construction of
61 Aquatic complex at Gujarat FoP 2.5
RC Gandhinagar
Construction of
Learners Swimming Uttar
62 FoP 1.48
pool at NSRC Pradesh
Lucknow
Construction of MP
63 Haryana MP Hall 8
Hall at STC Hisar
Installation of
64 Meghalaya FoP 5
Synthetic FootballTurf at SAI STC
Shillong
Year 2016-17
Construction of 100
65 bedded hostel at JNS New Delhi Residential 8.33
Stadium
International
Football Pitch with
66 Assam FoP 3.66
Lighting at SAI RC
Guwahati
Construction of 100
67 bedded hostel at Kerala Residential 8.62
LNCPE
Establishment of
Regional Centre at
68 Punjab NCoE 4.37
Zirakhpur, RC
Chandigarh
Laying of Synthetic
football turf and
69 Karnataka FoP 7.55
allied works at NSSC
Bangalore
Construction of 50
Uttar
70 bedded hostel at STC Residential 3.93
Pradesh
Bareilly
Construction of
swimming pool
71 50X25 mtr. size with Maharashtra FoP 10.3
allied facilities at
STC Aurangabad
Laying of Synthetic 8
lane Athletic Track
72 Kerala FoP 9.09
at Govt. Brennan
College Thalassery
Year 2015-16
Laying of Synthetic
Madhya
73 Hockey surface at FoP 3.38
Pradesh
CRC Bhopal
Replacement of
74 Punjab FoP 5.98
Synthetic AthleticTrack at NS NIS
Patiala
Indoor swimming
75 pool 25X25 mtr. size Punjab FoP 7.87
at NIS Patiala
laying of Syn. Hockey
76 surface at takyel, Manipur FoP 5.93
Imphal
laying of Syn.
77 Athletic Track Manipur FoP 7.59
Imphal, Manipur
Construction of
Tennis Courts with
78 Manipur FoP 0.51
Syn. Surface at
takyel Imphal
Construction of
79 Wrestling Hall at SAI Haryana FoP 5.23
NRC Sonepat
Infrastructure at SAG
centre at Alleppey
80 Kerala Residential 13.72
(Phase I) : 63 bedded
Girls hostel
Infrastructure at SAG
centre at Alleppey
(Phase II) : 63 bedded
81 Kerala Residential 12.97
Boys hostel,
Extension of fitness
centre etc
New Boat House and
82 Floating Jetty at Kerala FoP 3.15
SAISAG Alleppey
Replacement of
Uttar
83 Synthetic Hockey FoP 4.73
Pradesh
surface SAI Lucknow
Replacement of
Synthetic Hockey
84 Maharashtra FoP 5.65
surface at STC
Aurangabad
Year 2014-2015Renovation of
85 Cycling Velodrome, Kerala FoP 1.39
LNCPE
Augmentation of
existing HT & LT
86 electric distribution Punjab Ancillary 3.38
system of camps,
NSNIS Patiala
Construction of 100
87 bedded Hostel at Manipur Residential 8.98
SAG Centre, Imphal
Construction of
Synthetic hockey
88 surface at SAG Extn. Mizoram FoP 3
Centre Thenzwal,
SAG Aizwal
***ANNEXURE – II
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (D) & (E) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *115 FOR ANSWER ON 28.07.2025
REGARDING SPORTS SCIENCE AND MEDICINE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
FOR ATHLETES, ASKED BY SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL, HON’BLE
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
The details of CSR funds received in National Sports Development
Fund (NSDF) during the last three years
S. Year CSR funds Amount Purpose
No. received from (in ₹)
1 General F or Weightlifting
Insurance 3,85,32,900 Equipments
Corporation of
India
2023-
2 For construction
24
Coal India Ltd 47,85,12,603 of Hostels at
LNIPE Gwalior,
SAI Centre at
Bengaluru and
HPC – Sonepat.
3 Hindustan F or Integrated
Aeronautics 6,00,00,000 High Performance
2024-
Limited (HAL) Sports Science
25
Centre at SAI,
Bengaluru
4 2025- - - -
26
Total 57,70,45,503
***