Marginal increase in sports budget

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 1

Even as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised the Indian athletes for their record haul of medals at the Asian Games and chess star R Praggnanandhaa, there was not a big jump in terms allocation to sports in this year’s interim budget.

In fact, the overall allocation for the year 2024-25 has been increased by Rs 45 crore. From last year’s Rs 3396.32 crore, the allocation for this year has been pegged at Rs 3442.36 crore.

The big increase has been allotted to Sports Ministry’s Mera Yuva Bharat scheme, which intends to strengthen and develop personality and character by inculcating leadership qualities in youth. The scheme, which was allotted Rs 150 crore in the revised estimate last year, has now been allocated Rs 200 crore.

Significantly, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which conducts national camps and looks after the training of the athletes, gets a big jump in terms of budgetary allocation. They have been allocated Rs 822.60 crore as opposed to Rs 785.52 last year, which is a raise of Rs 37.08 crore.

Assistance to the National Sports Federation has also been raised from Rs 325 crore to Rs 340 crore this year. Also, the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), from where athletes can draw financial help for training, has been increased from Rs 15 to Rs 18 crore in this year’s allocation.

However, Khelo India, which was envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a key department of the Sports Ministry, sees a drop in allocation. From last year’s Rs 1000 crore, it will only be given Rs 900 crore, a significant drop of Rs 100 crore.

The National Sports University budget too has been decreased for this financial year. The NSU was allocated Rs 107.84 crore last year, whereas this year they have been granted Rs 91.90 crore. Further, incentive for sportspersons too has been decreased from Rs 45 crore to Rs 39 crore for this year.

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#Asian Games #Chess #Nirmala Sitharaman