Sports Budget 2024: Top highlights as govt allocates highest-ever budget for Khelo India Program

Published at :July 23, 2024 at 7:24 PM

Modified at :July 23, 2024 at 7:24 PM

The sports budget 2024 saw a small increase of 45.36 crore from last time.

The government has allocated Rs 3,442.32 crore for sports in the Union Budget 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced. This is a small increase of Rs 45.36 crore in sports budget 2024-25 from last year’s budget. The modest rise comes as the Paris Olympics approach in August, marking the end of the current Olympic cycle.

The budget continues to focus on grassroots sports development through the Khelo India program. It also maintains support for top athletes and national sports organizations. This year’s budget tries to balance developing young talent with preparing for major international events like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.

The key points of the sports budget show how the money will be spent and what it might mean for sports in India. These are the top highlights from the sports budget 2024.

Highest allocation for Khelo India Program

The government’s flagship program, Khelo India, received the biggest share of the sports budget with an allocation of Rs 900 crore. This is an increase of Rs 20 crore from the revised allocation of Rs 880 crore in the previous financial year. The Khelo India program, aimed at promoting sports at the grassroots level, has seen consistent investment from the government.

Boost for National Sports Federations and Sports Authority of India (SAI)

The budget for National Sports Federations (NSFs) has been increased by Rs 15 crore, rising from Rs 325 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 340 crore for the upcoming fiscal year. This boost in funding is expected to facilitate greater participation of Indian athletes in international competitions, potentially leading to improved exposure and experience.

Additionally, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has received an enhanced allocation of Rs 822.60 crore, up from Rs 795.77 crore in the previous year, marking an increase of Rs 26.83 crore. SAI is responsible for managing sports infrastructure and overseeing the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), a key initiative for supporting elite athletes.

Support for anti-doping efforts

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) both received slight increases in their budgets. NADA’s budget rose from Rs 21.73 crore to Rs 22.30 crore, while NDTL’s budget increased from Rs 19.50 crore to Rs 22 crore.

Expansion of Khelo India program

Since 2018, the Khelo India program has grown to include more events. It added the University Games and Winter Games in 2020, and the Para Games in 2023. The program has also set up many training centers, called Khelo India State Centres of Excellence, across the country. These centers give talented young athletes a place to train and improve their skills.

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