Khelo India 2023 Receives ₹900 Crore In Union Budget 2024

Khelo India, the government's primary initiative to foster sports at the grassroots level, has once again received the largest portion of the sports ministry's budget. This year, it was allocated ₹900 crore out of a total budget of ₹3,442.32 crore on July 23.

The allocation for Khelo India, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi is ₹20 crore higher than last year's revised amount of ₹880 crore. This increase comes as the Olympic cycle concludes in Paris this August, with the Commonwealth and Asian Games still two years away.

In the previous financial year, the sports ministry's budget stood at ₹3,396.96 crore. The government has consistently invested in Khelo India to discover talent nationwide. In 2022-23, Khelo India's actual allocation was ₹596.39 crore but was raised to ₹1,000 crores in 2023-24 before being revised to ₹880 crore.

Expansion of Khelo India Initiatives

Since the first Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in 2018, the programme has expanded significantly. The ministry introduced the Khelo India University Games in 2020 and launched both the Khelo India Winter Games and Khelo India Para Games that same year and in 2023 respectively.

The government has also established numerous Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) across the country to provide facilities for promising athletes. Many athletes from these programmes are part of India's Olympic-bound contingent.

Support for National Sports Federations

The government's support for National Sports Federations (NSFs) has increased by ₹15 crore, from ₹325 crore in 2023-24 to ₹340 crore in this year's budget. This boost aims to enhance their capabilities and support athletes more effectively.

The Sports Authority of India's budget has also been raised from ₹795.77 crore to ₹822.60 crore, an increase of ₹26.83 crore. This organisation not only maintains stadiums across India but also manages the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), preparing athletes for international competitions.

Funding for Anti-Doping Agencies

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) have seen slight budget increases as well. NADA's budget rose from Rs 21.73 crore last year to ₹22.30 crore this year, while NDTL's funding increased from ₹19.50 crore to ₹22 crore.

This continued investment underscores the government's commitment to promoting sports and supporting athletes at various levels through comprehensive programmes and enhanced facilities.