Sports Budget 2023: Biggest ever allocation for sports sector in India’s history

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday unveiled Union Budget for fiscal year 2023-24. In budget, sports sector received its biggest-ever allocation as it saw a whopping increase of over 723.97 crores from previous financial year. Finance Ministry has allocated Rs 3397.32 crore for sports sector, which has come as a big boost ahe of this year's Asian Games and 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Sports Authority of India (SAI) has received a hike of Rs 132.52 crore from last year as apex body h witnessed a Rs 7.41 crore budget cut in 2022-23. SAI has received funding of Rs 785.52 crore in this year's sports budget. Meanwhile, Khelo India has got highest allocation in this year's sports budget with Rs 1045 crore to its name. rest have been kept for National Sports Federation (Rs 325 crore), National Service Scheme (Rs 325 crore), and National Sports Development Fund (Rs 15 crore). 

Sports Budget 2023-24

• Khelo India: Rs 1045 crore
• SAI: 785.52 crore
• National Sports Federations: 325 crore
• National Service Scheme: 325 crore
• National Sports Development Fund: Rs 15 crore

amount is more than revised budget of previous financial year (2022-23) when ministry received Rs 2,673.35 crore, as against actual allocation of Rs 3,062.60 crore.

One of reasons for reduced revised allocation for 2022-23 could be postponement of Hangzhou Asian Games, which will be held this year.

ministry's flagship programme, 'Khelo India -- National Programme for Development of Sports' continues to be government's priority, with it being allotted Rs 1,045 crore as against revised allocation of Rs 606 crore during previous financial year. 

This is an increase of Rs 439 crore and points to government's commitment to programme, which over years, has shown potential to produce athletes for major global events such as Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

Sports Authority of India (SAI), which takes care of organising national camps for athletes, providing infrastructure and equipment to athletes, appointment of coaches and maintaining sports infrastructure, among ors, has seen a Rs 36.09 crore increase in its budgetary allocation from previous year's revised expenditure of Rs 749.43 crore. ir allocation for 2023-24 stands at Rs 785.52 crore.

National Sports Federations (NSFs) have received an increased allocation of Rs 45 crore, from previous year's revised budget of Rs 280 crore and will now get Rs 325 crore.

National Anti-Doping Agency (NA), affiliated to World Anti-Doping Agency (WA), and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), which earlier received funding from SAI, will now get it directly.

A provision has been me in this year's budget to provide NA a funding of Rs 21.73 crore, while NDTL, which conducts tests, will receive Rs 19.50 crore.

With countries across world striving for sporting excellence and paying more attention to sports science and scientific training of athletes, this year's budget has also me a provision of Rs 13 crore for National Centre of Sports Science and Research. 

(with PTI inputs)

Image: PTI