Sports Budget 2023: Ministry gets record Rs 3397.32cr allocation ahead of Asian Games, Paris Olympics

The amount allotted for this financial year is at least 700cr more than the previous year's allocation.

The Indian government (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports) has released the sports budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 on February 01, 2023. It has allocated a budget estimate of Rs 3397.32 crore, which is also the highest-ever budget allocation for sports. In the last fiscal year, the government allocated Rs 3062. 60 crore which means there has been an increase of Rs 334.72 crores for this fiscal year.

Although the Sports Ministry was allocated Rs 3,062.60 crore in the last financial year, it only received Rs 2,673.35 crore. The revised allocation was most likely due to the postponement of the Hangzhou Asian Games, which will take place this year.

The government’s flagship programme, the 'Khelo India Games' has been allotted Rs 1045 crore, an increase of 400 plus crore from the previous fiscal allocation (Rs 606 crore). SAI (Sports Authority of India) and NSF (National Sports Federation) have received an extra grant with the former receiving 749.43 crore and the latter receiving 325 crore.

Sports Authority of India helps in organizing national camps for both junior and senior athletes and provides infrastructural and equipment support. TOPS (Target Olympic Podium scheme) provides support to specific budding athletes. The athletes under TOPS get to train in foreign conditions. (Neeraj Chopra started his training at Loughborough University in London and has been part of TOPS for the past few years). Likewise, there are several others athletes who get financial assistance through this scheme.

The budget allotted to other autonomous bodies like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, and Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, which also includes SAI, increased by over Rs 100 crore to stand at Rs 1435.58 crore.

NADA (National Anti Doping Agency) which conducts dope tests earlier received funds through SAI but under the new budget, is set to receive it directly from the sports ministry. NADA along with NDTL are set to receive Rs 21.73 crore and Rs 19.50 crore respectively. The National Centre of Sports Science and Research received Rs 13 crore.