New Delhi: At a time when the Central government is pushing for a serious Olympic Games bid in 2036, sports was expected to be one of the focus areas in the Union Budget for 2025-26, presented in Parliament on Saturday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The allocation for sports sector did see an increase, though it wasn’t a very significant one. The Finance Minister announced Rs 3,794.30 crore for the Ministry for Youth Affairs & Sports, a jump of Rs 351.98 crore which amounts to just over 10%.
The biggest beneficiary is Khelo India, the government’s flagship programme to scout and nurture athletes at the grassroots level, reported PTI.
From Rs 800 crore in 2024-25, the allocation for Khelo India in the next financial year has gone up to Rs 1,000 crore – a raise of 25%.
