Youth, Sports Get Stimulus With Budget Allocation Of Rs 3397.32 Cr

In the FY2023-24 budget, the Centre has given the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports a fillip with an allocation of Rs. 3397.32 crores.

The Budget allocation for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been increased by 11 per cent in comparison to FY 2022-23.

This is the highest-ever budget allocation for the Ministry since 2010 when Commonwealth Games were held in India. The Budget allocation is more than three times the budget of 2011-12 and is almost two times the budget of 2014-15.

In a statement, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur said, “Recognising the need to completely revamp the existing sports ecosystem in the country,   Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, since the very beginning, has given unprecedented attention to grassroots-level talent identification, infrastructure building, support to elite athletes and creating an overall sports culture that would provide equal opportunities to women, the divyang and the youth from far flung areas.”

The Budget allocation for the Department of Sports is Rs 2462.59 crore against the last year’s allocation of Rs 2254 crore and for the Department of Youth Affairs is Rs 934.73 crore against the last year’s allocation of Rs. 808.60 crore.

Major schemes/organisations for the Ministry have substantially increased in the budget outlay this year. These include areKhelo India (Rs 1000 crore), Sports Authority of India (Rs 785.52 crore), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (Rs 401.49 crore), National Sports Federations (Rs 325 crore) and National Service Scheme(Rs 325 crore).

“The result of this has been the introduction of unique schemes and programmes, like the Khelo India Scheme, Fit India Movement, Target Olympic Podium, Mission Olympic Cell and so on. These programmes have proved to be very successful and are widely acclaimed across the country. With the Prime Minister injecting a renewed vigour into sports, a large number of historic firsts have also been recorded in India’s sporting history since 2014,” Minister Thakur added.