By: Aditya Ahuja
While presenting the Union Budget 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed the Modi 3.0 government’s dedication to elevating India to an elite sporting nation. This year, the sports sector has been allocated a record INR 3,442 crores, an increase from INR 3,396 crores in the previous year.
A significant focus of this budget is on youth development, with substantial investments planned for grassroots initiatives and skill enhancement to elevate the Indian sporting community. The government’s flagship project, Khelo India, which promotes sports at the grassroots level, emerged as the primary beneficiary, receiving robust support to continue its mission.
The key points of the sports budget illustrate the allocation of funds and their potential impact on the future of sports in India. Here are the top highlights from the 2024 sports budget:
Khelo India: Major Beneficiary
Khelo India, the government’s flagship program for promoting grassroots sports, emerged as the primary beneficiary, receiving INR 900 crores from the total sports ministry allocation of INR 3,442.32 crores. This is an increase of INR 20 crores from the revised allocation of INR 880 crores in the previous financial year.
Expansion of Khelo India program
Since the inaugural Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in 2018, the government has expanded the program to include the Khelo India University Games in 2020, the Khelo India Winter Games the same year, and the Khelo India Para Games in 2023. Hundreds of Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) have been established nationwide, providing facilities for promising athletes. Many Khelo India athletes are part of India’s Olympic-bound contingent.
More Support for National Sports Federations
The government’s support for National Sports Federations (NSFs) increased by INR 15 crores, from INR 325 crores in 2023-24 to INR 340 crores in the latest budget.
Boost to SAI
The budget for the Sports Authority of India, which manages stadia and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), saw its budget rise from INR 795.77 crores to INR 822.60 crores, an increase of INR 26.83 crores.
Increased Funding for Anti-Doping Initiative
The budgets for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) also saw slight increases. NADA’s budget rose from INR 21.73 crores to INR 22.30 crores, while NDTL’s budget increased from INR 19.50 crores to INR 22 crores