The Union Budget allocation for the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has expectedly not shown any significant changes from the last year. One of the biggest reasons for this could be the sharp upward revision last year when the Department was allocated more than Rs 400 crore in comparison to the previous year’s figures.
The allocation for the Ministry for 2024-25 has gone up by Rs. 45.36 crore to Rs. 3442.32 crore when viewed against the Revised Budget for 2023-24. The allocation for Central Sector Schemes/Projects under the Department of Sports for the year 2024-24 has come down by Rs. 67.89 crore while the allocation of Other Central Sector Expenditure has risen by Rs. 46.45 crore.
It must also not be forgotten that the allocations had been substantially increased last year when compared to 2022-23. With the levels of allocation being pegged at nearly the same levels as last year, the pace and trajectory of evolution of sport can be maintained through the Olympic year (Paris 2024) and beyond.
The allocation for Khelo India, an umbrella scheme which aims to infuse sports culture in the country besides holistic development of children and youth, community development, gender equity, national integration and nation building, healthy lifestyle, national pride and economic opportunities by broad-basing sport and achieving excellence, has increased by Rs. 20 crore.
Similarly, the allocation for Assistance to National Sports Federations to send teams abroad for training and competition in internationals tournaments, to hold international competitions, to procure sports equipment and to organise coaching camps to prepare national teams and to engage foreign coaches and support staff has increased by Rs 15 crore.
It is significant that while the incentives for sportspersons was proposed at Rs. 45 crore last year, it was eventually enhanced to Rs. 84 crore. It showcases a willingness on the part of the Union Government to revise and allocate greater financial resources to reward India’s sportspersons when they return with excellent performances in international competitions.
It must also be remembered that this is an Interim Budget since General Elections are due later this year in April/May. Upon its formation, the new Government will have the privilege of presenting the Budget. Perhaps that is the reason the Budget Speech has no mention of India’s aspirations to host the Youth Olympic Games and/or the Olympic Games.
| Union Budget (Department of Sports) in Rs. crore | |||||
| 2022-23 Actual | 2023-24 Revised | 2024-25 Proposed | |||
| Assistance to National Sports Federations | 272.87 | 325.00 | 340.00 | ||
| Scheme of HRD in Sports | 1.79 | 4.00 | 3.10 | ||
| Incentive to Sportspersons | 45.24 | 84.00 | 39.00 | ||
| National Sports Development Fund | 16.00 | 46.00 | 18.00 | ||
| National Welfare Fund for Sportsperson | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | ||
| National Centre of Sports Science & Research | 6.98 | 10.00 | 8.00 | ||
| Khelo India Scheme | 596.39 | 880.00 | 900.00 | ||
| Sports in Jammu & Kashmir | 5.00 | 20.00 | 8.00 | ||
| Commonwealth Games | 15.00 | 0.01 | |||
| Other Central Sector Expenditure (Sports) | |||||
| Sports Authority of India | 741.14 | 795.77 | 822.60 | ||
| Laxmi Bai National Institute of Physical Education | 61.00 | 70.65 | 78.51 | ||
| National Dope Testing Laboratory | 16.20 | 19.50 | 22.00 | ||
| National Anti-Doping Agency | 16.31 | 21.73 | 22.30 | ||
| National Sports University | 83.21 | 91.90 | |||
| Other Autonomous bodies | 89.42 | ||||
| Others | |||||
| Contribution to WADA | 3.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | ||
| Total | 1873.34 | 2379.86 | 2358.42 | ||