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Indian Sports ministry asked to utilize budget for training athletes

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Khelo India account for a sizeable portion of the department of sports' overall budget.

By Abhiruchi Rout | Mar 28, 2023 | 2 Min Read

The Indian Sports Ministry has been advised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports to utilize the higher budgetary allotment for the fiscal year 2023–2024 wisely and adequately for the training of athletes competing in the next Asian Games and the 2024 Olympics. The two upcoming multi-discipline events are the main reason why the government boosted the budgetary allocation for the sports ministry by 22.08% from the modified estimate budget for the previous financial year.

The Department of Sports receives the majority of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ total budgetary allocation in BE (budget estimates) 2023–24, accounting for 72.49% of the budget, compared to 27.51% for the Department of Youth Affairs. The panel advised that the department use this increase in funding wisely and effectively for the department’s training of athletes competing in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

More about the Indian sports budget

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Khelo India account for a sizeable portion of the department of sports’ overall budget. The panel advised having a distinct demand head for improved administrative control and decision-making to enhance the implementation of programs/schemes. A total of INR 1785.52 crore has been allotted for the Khelo India program, including INR 1,000 crore for the BE stage, and INR 785.52 crore for SAI. These two items together account for 72.50% of the sports department’s overall budgetary allotment of INR 2462.59 crore.

What did the committee emphasize?

The committee highlighted the need for improved monitoring systems to ensure the best possible use of money, giving priority to flagship programs like Khelo India and the Sports University in the North East Region, and removing bottlenecks in the use of funds. The group emphasized the need to broaden the scope of Khelo India, one of the nation’s most significant programs for encouraging sports. The committee also asked to be kept updated on the two projects’ infrastructure progress. The committee’s suggestions arrive just as India is gearing up for both the 2024 Olympics and the next Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022.

What steps has the Indian government taken?

The Indian government has been making efforts to advance sports in the nation and raise the caliber of its athletes’ performances abroad. The Khelo India program, introduced in 2018, aims to find and develop young athletes’ sporting talent and give them access to top-notch training facilities. The Sports Authority of India has been trying to upgrade the infrastructure of sporting venues all around the nation to give athletes access to cutting-edge training facilities. With seven medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, India has been steadily improving its performance in the Olympics. The nation is still far behind other major sporting nations like the United States, China, and Russia in terms of overall performance.