NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday presented the last big budget before her government returns to the polls in 2024’s general elections, and introduced a slew of measures meant to cater to as wide a spectrum of the voting populace as possible.
Specific to sports, in a year when Indian athletes will compete at the Asian Games and prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Union Sports Ministry has received its highest-ever budget allocation of Rs 3,397.32 crore.
For the record, the ministry received Rs 2,673.35 cr in the previous fiscal (2022-23), as against the Rs 3,062.60 crore that had been announced.
As per PTI, one of the reasons for the reduced revised allocation for 2022-23 could have been because of the postponement of the Hangzhou Asian Games, which will now be held later this year.
The ministry’s flagship programme, ‘Khelo India, continues to be the government’s priority, with it being allotted Rs 1,045 crore.
This is an increase of Rs 439 crore and points to the government’s commitment to the programme, which over the years, has shown the potential to produce athletes for major global events such as the Olympics, Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), which takes care of organising national camps for athletes, providing infrastructure and equipment to athletes, the appointment of coaches and maintaining sports infrastructure, among others, has seen a Rs 36.09 cr increase in its budgetary allocation from the previous year’s revised expenditure of Rs 749.43 cr. Their allocation for 2023-24 stands at Rs 785.52 cr.
National Sports Federations (NSFs) have received an increased allocation of Rs 45 crore, from the previous year’s revised budget of Rs 280 crore and will now get Rs 325 crore.
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), affiliated with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), which earlier received funding from SAI, will now get it directly.
A provision has been made in this year’s budget to provide NADA funding of Rs 21.73 crore, while NDTL, which conducts the tests, will receive Rs 19.50 crore.
With countries across the world striving for sporting excellence and paying more attention to sports science and the scientific training of athletes, this year’s budget has also made a provision of Rs 13 crore for the National Centre of Sports Science and Research.
Budget 2023-24 allocation for Sports key highlights:
Khelo India: Rs 1045 Cr
SAI: 785.52 Cr
National Sports Federations: 325 Cr
National Service Scheme: 325 Cr
National Sports Development Fund: Rs 15 Cr
Reactions
Rishikesh Joshi, founder of Sports For All (SFA): “The over 200% jump in the Khelo India Budgets from 2017 shows the importance of investing in youth sport.
“The quality of science, nutrition and professionals that our young athletes need will get a huge boost. Also, more athletes will be able to get the support they need and thereby our participation in global events such as the Asian Games will get strengthened. India will also be able to attract and host more global sports events, which will further strengthen our sporting ecosystem.”
Tenzing Niyogi, CEO & League Commissioner, Ultimate Kho Kho: “The budget will enable financial assistance to the state governments to develop sports infrastructure and facilities and to encourage sports participation at the grassroots level. The growth of Indigenous Sports will fuel the sports league talent supply chain which eventually will bring India closer to becoming a Multi-Sport Playing Nation. The increasing commercialization of sports in India is also helping to create a vibrant sports culture.”
