Union Budget 2024-25 Sports : The effect of the central government’s focus on sports budget is now visible in India’s performance at the global level. The effect of the year-on-year increase in the budget, programs like Khelo India and the facilities provided to sports and players is now visible in events like Olympics and Asian Games. In such a situation, a big allocation is expected in the field of sports in the budget to be presented in the Olympic year this year. Anyway, the sports budget has been increasing continuously in the last few years.
In the last few years, India’s performance in the field of sports has improved at the global level. The focus of the central government has been continuously in this area, due to which the sports budget has increased 3 times in 10 years. The share of sports in the budget is increasing year after year. In the Tokyo Olympics 2021, India won a total of 7 medals including 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals, which is the best performance till date. At the same time, in the Asiad held in China last year, India made history by winning a total of 107 medals including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze.
3442 crores were received in the interim budget
In the interim budget presented in February this year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced allocation of Rs 3442.32 crore to the Sports Ministry. Compared to last year i.e. Budget 2023, it was increased by Rs 45 crore. Khelo India was allocated Rs 900 crore by increasing Rs 20 crore in the last budget. Let us tell you that this year the Olympic Games will be organized in Paris, the capital of France, from 26 July to 11 August. Due to this, the sports budget got a good allocation.
There has been a steady increase in the sports budget
In the interim budget 2024, Rs 3442.32 crore was allocated to the Sports Ministry. While in the budget 2023-24, the central government gave a budget of Rs 3396.96 crore for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs. In the budget 2022-23, Rs 2671.42 crore was given for the Ministry of Youth and Sports. In the budget 2021-22, the sports budget was Rs 2671 crore. In the budget 2020-21 it was Rs 2400 crore. In the budget 2019-20 it was Rs 2301.42 crore, while in the budget 2018-19 the sports budget was Rs 2075.35 crore.
India’s growing steps in sports
Now the government is completely focused on promoting youth through sports in the country. Seeing India’s growing steps in sports, the youth also want to make their future in the field of sports. People’s inclination towards sports is constantly increasing. Due to this, the government has also increased the sports budget. Apart from cricket, the youth in the country are now progressing in other sports as well. The central government is focused on providing them better facilities.
The central government believes that the country can be strengthened in the field of sports through good resources, modern training facilities, international exposure and transparency in selection. PM Modi believes that the country will continue to improve in sports only when our youth develop confidence in sports and are encouraged to make sports their profession. Therefore, just like other professions, many youth are now looking at sports as well.