Budget 2024: Was there anything for Sports in the Union Budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman?

Sports Ministry was on Thursday allocated Rs 3,442.32 crore, a hike of Rs 45.36 crore as compared to last year, in interim Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

In previous budget, Sports Ministry h got a revised allocation of Rs 3,396.96 crore.

Olympic Games in Paris, to be held from July 26 to August 11, will be country's main focus during 2024-25 financial year.

ministry's flagship programme, Khelo India, was allotted Rs 900 crore, an increase of Rs 20 crore from previous budget.

Sports Authority of India (SAI), which organises national camps, provides infrastructure and equipment to athletes, appoints coaches among ors, saw Rs 26.83 crore increase in its budgetary allocation from previous year's revised expenditure of Rs 795.77 crore.

National Sports Federations (NSFs) will receive Rs 15 crore more this time, as compared to 2023-24 revised budget of Rs 325 crore.

National Anti-Doping Agency (NA) too got a raise with government allocating Rs 22.30 crore in interim budget as compared to Rs 21.73 crore in 2023-24.

National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), which conducts testing of dope samples, will receive Rs 22 crore, Rs 2.5 crore more than previous budget.

budget for National Centre of Sports Science and Research has been reduced to Rs 8 crore from Rs 10 crore previously, while National Sports University will get an increased allocation of Rs 91.90 crore from Rs 83.21 crore of 2023-24 budget.

budget for giving incentives to sportspersons saw a significant reduction from Rs 84 crore to Rs 39 crore.

allocation for National Sports Development Fund was also reduced to Rs 18 from Rs 46 crore. Pandit Deendayal Uphyay National Welfare for Sportspersons scheme got Rs 2 crore.

allocation for 'Enhancement of Sports Facility in Jammu and Kashmir' was also brought down to Rs 8 crore from previous budget allocation of Rs 20 crore.

In previous budget, allocation for Commonwealth Games was Rs 15 crore, which was brought down to Rs 0.01 crore this time.