Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha, in New
Delhi, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Sansad TV via PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI — The government's flagship Khelo India programme to scout and
nurture athletes at the grassroots level was the biggest beneficiary as the
allocation for sports and youth affairs was hiked substantially by INR 351.98
crore in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here
on Saturday.
The ambitious scheme has been allocated Rs 1,000 crore
for the financial year 2025-26. This is INR 200 crore more than the grant of INR
800 crore in 2024-25.
Overall, the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports was
designated INR 3,794.30 crore.
The increase is substantial considering there is no major
sporting event like the Olympics, Commonwealth or Asian Games lined up in the next
one year.
The assigned amount for assistance to National Sports
Federations has also been hiked marginally from INR 340 crore to INR 400 crore.
India is currently pushing through with an ambitious bid
to host the 2036 Olympic Games for which a letter of intent has been submitted
to the International Olympic Committee.
The allocation for Sports Authority of India (SAI), the
nodal body for the conduct of national camps and logistical arrangements for
athletes' training, was enhanced from INR 815 crore to INR 830 crore.
SAI is also responsible for maintaining and utilising
stadia across the country.
A similar hike was announced for the National Dope Testing
Laboratory, which will receive INR 23 crore this financial year. It had been
given INR 18.70 crore in 2024-25.
The National Anti-Doping Agency's budget was increased
from INR 20.30 crore to 24.30 crore.
The contribution to the National Sports Development Fund,
which was created in 1998, will continue to be Rs 18 crore for a second
successive year, while the government has decided to cut the grant for
incentive to sportspersons from INR 42.65 crore to INR 37 crore this year.
Cuts were also announced to the funding for National
Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development and Youth Hostels. However, the
contribution for multilateral bodies and youth exchange programmes has been
raised from INR 11.70 crore to INR 55 crore.
A INR 20 crore fund has been approved for the enhancement
of sports facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, which is INR 14 crore more than the
previous year.
A massive chunk of the increased budget will be going to
the National Service Scheme which will receive INR 450 crore, a hike of INR 200
crore from the previous year.
The National Service Scheme (NSS) aims to "develop
character and personality of youth in schools and colleges."
It's a scheme that works towards shaping youngsters
through social work and community service.
