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REFERENCE NOTE .
No. 20/RN/Ref./July/2015

For the use of Members of Parliament Not for Publication

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

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The reference material is for personal use of the Members in the discharge of their Parliamentary duties, and is not for
publication. This Service is not to be quoted as the source of the information as it is based on the sources indicated at the
end/in the text. This Service does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or veracity of the information or views
contained in the note/collection.
 SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

1. INTRODUCTION
Sports and Games have always been perceived as an integral component in the all-
round development of personality. Apart from being a means of entertainment and physical
fitness, sports have always played a greater role in generating spirit of healthy competition
and bonding among us. Today, sports emerge as an important component of socio-
economic development of the country and the Government plays a crucial role in
promoting sports. The Government and governmental organizations are responsible in
making sports policies, allocating grants for developing infrastructure, nurturing talents and
designing specialized programmes for overall development of sports.

Today, many types of sports are played across the country. Things apart, regional
games have also become a way of life. India first participated at the Summer Olympic
Games in 1920, and, since then, has participated in every Summer Olympic Games.
India’s first achievement in Gold Medal in Olympics dates back to the 1928 Summer
Olympic Games, winning Men’s Field Hockey. Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian to
win an individual Gold Medal at the Olympic Games1.

In recognition of the importance of sports, a separate department was set up in

1982, prior to the commencement of the 9th Asian Games. National Sports Policy 1984
was the first move towards developing an organized and systematic framework for the
development and promotion of sports in the country, and the precursor of the present
National Sports Policy, 20012.

2. NATIONAL SPORTS POLICIES/GUIDELINES/LEGISLATION

Government of India also has been, from time to time, taking various steps and
initiatives to promote good governance practices in the management of sports at the
national level in pursuance of successive National Sports Policies. These policies are
based on the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of Olympic and Sports
movement and do not, in any manner, contradict or interfere with the autonomy of the

1
India, Rajya Sabha, Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development. 269
Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16 of Department of Sports (presented on 28.4.2015)
2
India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Annual Report 2014-15, p.
 -2-

national sports bodies in discharging their functions and duties in accordance with the
International Olympic Committee Charter3.

National Sports Policy 2001: The twin planks of the Sports Policy 2001 are “Broad-
basing of Sports’’ and “Achieving Excellence in Sports” at the national and international
levels. The salient features of the Policy; Up-gradation and development of infrastructure;
Support to National Sports Federations and other sports bodies; Strengthening of scientific
and coaching support to sports; Special incentives to promote sports; Enhanced
participation of women, scheduled tribes and rural youth; Involvement of corporate sector
in sports promotion; and Promote sports mindedness among the public at large4.

National Sports Development Code of India (NSDCI), 2011: In the recent past
Government has taken various steps to further improve the management of National
Sports Federations (NSFs) and sports in the country such as notification of the Anti-Doping
Code; introduction of annual recognition of NSFs; measures to ensure free, fair and
transparent elections by the NSFs; and measures to combat age fraud in sports; and
guidelines for the prevention of sexual harassment of women in sports. The various
orders/circulars issued by the Government from time to time are amalgamated under this
National Sports Development Code of India, 20115.

National Sports Development Bill, 2013: The Working Group, headed by Justice (Retd.)
Mukul Mudgul, has formulated a draft of the National Sports Development Bill, 2013. This
has been circulated to the stakeholders for seeking their comments/suggestions. The
same has also been placed on the website of the Ministry www.yas.nic.in, inviting
suggestions6. The Bill seeks to provide for promotion and development of sports and
welfare measures for sportspersons, promotion of ethical practices in sports including
elimination of doping practices, fraud of age and sexual harassment of women in sports,
constituting and establishing bodies to deal with Sports Disputes, Ethics, Elections and
Athletes representation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto7.

3
India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport Department of Sports. National Sports Development Code of India 2011,
pp.1-2
4
Op.cit., Annual Report 2014-15, pp. 100-101
5
Op.cit., National Sports Development Code of India, p.2
6
Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 464 dated 7.8.2013
7
www.yas.nic.in
 -3-

3. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONING OF DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS / SCHEMES/

PROGRAMMES

Sports is a state subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the State

Governments to create adequate sports infrastructure within the States. Further, the
Central Government complements and supplements efforts of States in this regard.
Department of Sports has two primary objectives i.e. broad basing of sports (making sports
available to all) and achieving excellence in sports.

To realise the first objective i.e. broad basing of sports there are two major schemes
running in the Department i.e. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan and Urban Sports Infrastructure
Scheme 8.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) - The RGKA , a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
introduced in 2014-15 in place of erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan
(PYKKA), aims at achieving the objectives of broad-basing of sports facilities and mass
participation in sports by providing basic sports infrastructure and equipment at the
‘Panchayat level’ and encouraging sports and games in ‘rural areas’ through annual
competitions at the block and district levels. RGKA will help the States in promoting sport
at the grassroots level, which they have not been able to achieve on their own so far due
to severe resource constraints. It will also deepen and widen the seedbed of sporting
talent, leading to better performances by our sportspersons in national and international
events.

RGKA envisages to be an important foundation of the grand strategy for

development of sports facilities; identification and nurturing of sporting talent in the country
as against the creation of sports facilities in Village Panchayats and Block Panchayats as
per the existing scheme. RGKA will be the building block and foundation for the long term
framework to create a sports ecosystem in the Country and also to make sports as a way
of life and an industry in the country and to achieve the goal of becoming one of the first 10
sporting nations in the world by 2020. The RGKA scheme has been implemented with
effect from 01st April 2014. In the Budget Estimate 2015-16, Rs. 95 crores have been

8
Op.cit., 269 Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16
 -4-

allocated for RGKA. During BE 2014-15 the fund allocation was for Rs. 200 crores,
however, during the RE stage it was reduced to Rs.85 crores.

In the RGKA scheme, it is proposed to construct a sports complex in each block

both for outdoor and indoor sports disciplines on land measuring about six - seven acres at
a cost of Rs. 80 lakh each (Total Rs. 1.60 crore). There is also provision of Rs. 15 lakh
for sports equipment to be provided by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

A number of Sports competitions are organized annually under RGKA Scheme,

such as - Rural sports competitions at block, district, state and national level; North-East
Games at district, state and national level ; and Women championships at district, state
and national level9.

Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme - Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, introduced

in 2010-11, envisages development of playfields by the State Governments through
Playfield Associations, coach development programme through Central and State
Governments, creation of infrastructure including laying of artificial turfs for hockey, football
and athletics, and construction of multi- purpose hall. Under the Scheme, State
Governments, local civic bodies, schools, colleges, universities and sports control boards
are eligible for assistance10. The Scheme focuses on promoting and supporting a
mechanism at national and state level to encourage, assist and preserve community
playfields, incentivizing utilization of infrastructure already available in the State at all levels
by filling up critical gaps, creating need-based infrastructure and creating capacity building
among coaches, including community coaches11.

To achieve the other main objective of the Department, i.e., achieving

excellence in sports there are two major areas one is National Sports Federation
and other is the Sports Authority of India.

National Sports Federations (NSFs): Promotion and development of specific sports

disciplines is mainly the responsibility of the concerned National Sports Federations

9
Ibid
10
Ibid
11
Op.cit., 269 Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16
 -5-

(NSFs). Government supplements the efforts of the NSFs by providing financial assistance
to the NSFs under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs for various activities such as holding
coaching camps for national level sportspersons, zonal and national championships for
sub-junior, junior and senior categories, organizing International tournaments in India,
training and participation of sportspersons/teams in international tournaments abroad,
procurement of sports and sports science equipment and consumables, engagement of
foreign coaches/experts to train athletes, etc. as per agreed Long Term Development
Plans. During the current financial year, an amount of Rs.185 crore has been allocated
under this Scheme12.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is the field arm of the Department and was set up in
1984 as a registered Society. SAI is engaged in spotting and nurturing talent at all levels
by providing the requisite infrastructure and equipment, coaching facilities, scientific back
up, nutritious diet, competition and exposure. It is also entrusted with the responsibility of
maintaining and utilizing, on behalf of the Department, the five Stadia in Delhi which were
constructed/renovated for the IX Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1982.

There are 9 Regional Centres of SAI, which are located at Bangalore, Gandhinagar,
Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Imphal, Bhopal and Sonepat. In addition, through
the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala, its academic arm, SAI offers
a variety of courses in sports coaching and sports medicine; and graduate and post-
graduate courses in physical education are offered at the Lakshmibai National College of
Physical Education (LNCPE), Thiruvananthapuram13. A brief outline of schemes
implemented by SAI for spotting and nurturing of sports talent and the promotion of sports
in the country is as under:-
 National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC)
 Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC)
 Specail Area Games (SAG)
 SAI Training Centres (STC)
 Centres of Excellence (COE)

12
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2266 dated 10.3.2015
13
Op.cit., 269 Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16
 -6-

The projected budget estimates for 2015-16 Sports Promotional Schemes are as
given below:
(Figures in Rs. Lakhs)
S. No. Schemes ROI NER TOTAL
1. National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) 203.98 18.41 222.39
2 Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC) 1307.81 98.00 1405.81
3 SAI Training Centre (STC) 3679.02 694.82 4373.84
4 Special Area Games (SAG) 705.48 885.32 1590.80
5 Extension of STC/SAG Centres 241.38 43.77 285.15
6 Centre of Excellence (COE) 567.71 49.09 616.80
TOTAL: 6705.38 1789.41 8494.79
Source: India, Rajya Sabha, Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource
Development, 269 Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16, Department of Sports

OTHER PROMOTIONAL SCHEMES OF DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS

Scheme Related to Promotion of Excellence in Sports - It includes Scheme of

Assistance to National Sports Federation, Scheme of Human Resource Development in
Sports, National Sports Development Fund and Financial Assistance from NSDF.

Scheme Relating to Incentives to Sportspersons - The Ministry implements various

schemes for giving incentives to sports persons to take up sports. It includes Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards, Maulana Kalam Azad Trophy,
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar, Special Awards to winner in International Sports
events and their coaches to encourage and motivate outstanding sport persons for higher
achievements. Scheme of Sports Fund for pensions to meritorious for sportsperson,
National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons.

Scheme Relating to Participative Sports - It includes Sports competitions under Rajiv

Gandhi Khel Abhiyan. And a Scheme for promotion of sports among persons with
disabilities was formulated during 2004. The main objective of the scheme is broad basing
participative sports among disables. Under this scheme during 2014-15, grants to 35
schools were provided under the scheme till 31.12.2014. 42350 persons with disabilities
participated in competitions conducted at district and State levels during 2014-1514.

14
Op.cit. Annual Report, pp.159-167
 -7-

National Anti Doping Agency - NADA has initiated a campaign for conducting anti
doping awareness workshops/ programs for the sports community which is called
“Program for Education and Awareness on Anti Doping in Sports” (PEADS). NADA has
implemented the dope testing policy for conducting dope test across various sports
disciplines15.

4. BUDGETARY ALLOCATION, 2015-16

Budgetary allocation for Sports 2015-16 is Rs. 1005 crore and percentage
allocation for sports vis-a-vis total play outlay is 0.174 per cent. The scheme-wise plan
and non-plan allocation of the Department for the B.E. 2015-16 with Rs.1005.48 crores
in plan side and Rs. 76.65 crores in the non-plan side is as given under16 :-

Sl. No. Name of the Scheme Plan Non-Plan

1. Sports Authority of India (SAI) 345.78 58.61
2. Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education 45.00 15.00
3. Special Cash Awards 30.00 -
4. Pension to Meritorious Sports Persons 2.00 -
5. Assistance to National Sports Federations 185.00 -
6. Human Resource Development in Sports 5.00 -
7. National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) 5.00 -
8. Urban Sports Infrastructure 25.00 -
9. National Dope Testing Laboratory 8.90 -
10. National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) 2.50 -
11. World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) 0.60 -
12. Promotion of Sports among Disabled 4.00 -
13. SAI Stadia Renovation 0.10 -
14. National Institute of Sports Science and Sports 0.50 -
Medicine
15. National Institute of Sports Coaching 0.50 -
16. National Physical Fitness Programme-Resource 0.10 -
Centre at LNIPE Gwalior
17. Scheme for Identification and Nurturing of Sporting 0.50 -
Talent in the Country (INSTALL)
18. Enhancement of Sports Facility at J&K 100.00 -
19. Sports University in North East 50.00 -
20. National Sports Talent Search System Programme 100.00 0.00
21. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan 95.00 -
22. Awards - 1.62
23. National Welfare Fund for Sports Persons - 1.00
24. Other Programmes - 0.42
Total 1005.48 76.65
Source: India, Rajya Sabha, Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource
Development, 269 Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16 of Department of Sports

15
www.yas.nic.in Initiatives, Achievements, Policies and Roadmap for the future
16
Ibid
 -8-

National Sports Development Fund (NSDF):To augment financial resources for sports
sector through public as well as private sector, the Government has instituted National
Sports Development Fund (NSDF) in 1998 with a view to mobilizing resources from
Government as well as non-governmental sources, including the private/corporate sector
and non-resident Indians. This Fund has received contributions from Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Jindal Steel & Power Ltd,
Oriental Bank of Commerce, Videocon International Ltd, Powergrid Corporation of India,
State Bank of India, Jaypee Sports Internatioinal Limited, etc. In order to encourage
corporate entities, both public and private and individuals, for contributing to NSDF, 100%
exemption from income tax is available on all contributions to National Sports
Development Fund (NSDF). Contributors to NSDF are free to assign the funds for specific
purpose.

Further, ‘nationally recognized sports, paralympic sports and Olympic sports’ has
been included in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, which would allow
companies to spend on development of sports from the funds earmarked for Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) related activities. Inclusion of sports in this Schedule is
expected to give a boost to the promotion and development of sports in the country and
the much needed funds from companies, both in public and private sector, are expected to
flow into sports sector17.

5. RECENT MAJOR INITIATIVES

Recent initiatives by the Department of Sports are as under:

1. Setting-up of the Manipur Sports University in Manipur. The Department is taking steps
to get it established. The site has been identified. The land is likely to be available
soon.

2. Second major initiative was the National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS),
which basically deals with identification of sporting talent in the country in the age group
of 8-12 years. The scheme has been developed and notified and the initial selections
should be taking place in this year.

3. The third initiative is the setting up of national academies in some of our major
prominent sports, largely under the aegis of SAI in collaboration with the National
Sports Federations.

17
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1359 dated 3.3.2015
 -9-

4. The fourth is the development of sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. This
basically involves remodeling and renewal of the two major stadia in Srinagar and
Jammu and also development of some sports facilities in district headquarters

5. The setting up of Indian Institute of Sports Science and Medicine and the National
Institute of Sports Coaching. These two projects are still at the formulation stage and
will take some more time for getting established18.

6. INDIA'S POSITION IN OLYMPICS GAMES, ASIAN GAMES AND COMMONWEALTH

GAMES

India got 55th position in Olympic Games 2012 and won 2 Silver and 4 Bronze
medals; in Commonwealth Games 2014 India stood at 5 th position with 15 Gold, 30 Silver
and 19 Bronze Medals; and in Asian Games 2014 India got 8 th position and won 11 Gold,
10 Silver and 36 Bronze medals.

Proud Moments of Indian Sport in Previous Year

1. 2012 London Olympics- 2 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals
2. India beat Sri Lanka to win Cricket World Cup in 2011
3. XVI Asian Games Guangzhou 2010- 14 Gold, 17 Silver, 33 Bronze total 65
4. 19 Commonwealth Games Delhi- 2010, 38 Gold, 27 Silver, 36 Bronze, total 101
5. Beijing Olympics - 1 Gold, 2 Bronze
6. Twenty20 World Cup Cricket, South Africa 2007
7. 2004 Athens Olympics- 1 Silver Medal
8. 1st Afro Asian Games 2003- 19 Gold, 31 Silver, 21 Bronze total 71
9. 2000 Olympics- Bronze Medal
10. 9th Asian Games 1982-13 Gold, 19 Silver and 25 Bronze
11. Indian won hockey World Cup in Malaysia for the first time in 1975
12. Olympic Bronze Medal, Helsinki 1952
13. The India contingent marches past in the opening of the first Asian Games 195119.

CONCLUSION
Despite varied and concerted efforts, the performance of Indian sports at the
International level is not very convincing. A few steps may be taken to make these
initiatives more comprehensive, like allocation of funds, as the percentage of budget,
should be increased rationally to broad-base sports in the country; sports should be made
as an integral part of the education system to inculcate sports culture from the school level;
18
Op.cit., 269 Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16
19
www.yas.nic.in
 -10-

uniformity should be maintained in sports specific activities of various States of India to

provide equal participation opportunity to its citizens; and a structure of good
management, control and exercise should be incorporated to make the system transparent
and accountable20.

20
Op.cit., 269 Report on Demands for Grants 2015-16