BUDGET 2024-25: Marginal increase in sports budget

New Delhi, July 23

There is only a marginal increase of Rs 45 crore in this year’s sports budget which was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday.

The total budgetary allocation for the year 2024-25 has increased from Rs 3,397.32 to Rs 3,442.32 crore.

Importantly, Khelo India’s allocation has been cut by Rs 100 crore. Khelo India, which was a key programme under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been allocated Rs 900 crore, which was Rs 1,000 last year.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI), which aids federations in holding national camps and training-cum-exposure trips of Indian teams, has been allocated a higher grant once again. As against 785.52 crore, this year’s allocation is pegged at Rs 822.60 crore, with a jump of Rs 37.08 crore. The assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) too has been increased. The NSFs have been allocated Rs 340 crore, which was Rs 325 crore last year.

However, incentive to sportspersons has been decreased by Rs 6 crore. The estimate is pegged at Rs 39 crore, lower than Rs 45 crore that was allocated in last year’s estimate.

The Finance Minister has also marginally increased the Budget for anti-doping agencies — the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The NDTL’s estimate has been increased from Rs 19.50 crore to Rs 22 crore while the NADA’s Budget has been increased from Rs 21.73 crore to Rs 22.30 crore.