GOI allocates highest-ever funds for sports in Union Budget 2022-23

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports received an allocation of ₹3,062.60 crores.

The Central Government presented the Union Budget for the financial year of 2022-23 on Tuesday. It brought good news for the Indian sports fraternity. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget in the Lok Sabha, that allocates funds in various sectors for the upcoming year. 

In the context of sports, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports received an allocation of ₹3,062.60 crores in the Union Budget. It is the highest-ever budget allocated for the development and continuation of sporting activities in India. As for the previous year, the amount stood at ₹2,596 crores.

The increase in funds

The proposal has seen an increase of ₹305.58 crores from the previous year. This amounts to an 11.08% hike in the Union Budget, which is a positive for the Indian sports community. One of the major beneficiaries is the Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram, an umbrella scheme under the Department of Youth Affairs. It received ₹138 crores for its functions.

The Khelo India scheme, the Indian government’s flagship sports programme, also receives a major boost, that is a plus for the development of sports at the grassroots level across the country. A huge 48.09% increase in the funds sees the scheme receive ₹974 crores for their activities in 2022-23. 

The government is taking steps to prepare the athletes for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in 2022. To that end, it is set to provide ₹653 crore in funds for the Sports Authority of India, which is responsible for the training of the sportspersons under the Department of Sports. Furthermore, the budget allocates ₹280 crores for the National Sports Federations. 

The increase in the sports budget in the Union Budget will aim to help the athletes deliver on the international stage. The Indian contingent gave a good account at the Tokyo Olympics and Tokyo Paralympics last year. Winning seven medals in the Olympics, including a historic gold for Neeraj Chopra was one of the highlights. It is important to carry that momentum in the following year and the hike in the sports budget is a sign of good things to come. 

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