OVERALL SPORTS BUDGET CUT, FEDERATIONS AND SAI TO GET MORE FUNDS

NEW DELHI: Amid the pandemic, the union sports budget has been slashed by ₹230.78 crore though allocations to the National Sports Federations (NSF) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) has been increased to boost the Tokyo Olympics preparations. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been allocated ₹2,596.14 crore, down from ₹2,826.92 crore earmarked in the previous budget. The budget last year was revised to ₹1,800.15 crore as there was hardly any sporting activity because of the pandemic. With the postponement of the Olympics, there were no foreign exposure trips and competition for a major part of the year.

The NSFS have received a boost of ₹280 crore, a hike of ₹35 crore from the previous budget. It is learnt that the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition—used to fund the training of athletes—will get a substantial hike to take care of the preparation of athletes in the Olympic year. Also, SAI has been allocated ₹660 crore, an increase of ₹160 crore from the previous fiscal. Allocation to Khelo India— the national programme for sports development—has been reduced from ₹890.42 crore to ₹657.71 crore. This is because last year the Khelo India budget was used for infrastructure development. The Khelo India Youth Games has been postponed. Allocation for National Sports Development Fund—it is used to meet the specific training needs of athletes under Target Olympic Podium Scheme—has been slashed by half, to ₹25 crore. Sources in the sports ministry, however, said there will be no shortage of funds to prepare athletes for the Olympics as their training is already being taken care of. The incentives to sports persons, under which eligible athletes are provided cash awards, has been also reduced to ₹53 crore from ₹70 crore.