FM announces Rs 305.58 crore hike in sports budget

Tokyo Olympics. Pic/AFP

Country's tremendous success at the Tokyo Olympics seems to have influenced the sports budget as the central government on Tuesday allocated Rs 3,062.60 crore for financial year 2022-23 - an increase of R305.58 crore, compared to the last year's amount.

In the last financial year, the government had allocated Rs 2,596.14 crore for sports, which was later revised to Rs 2,757.02 crore.

India won seven medals, including a historic track and field gold, at the Tokyo Olympics. The sporting activities have also resumed in a phased manner in the country and 2022 is an important season because of two global events - the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and Hangzhou Asian Games - lined up.

Considering all of it, the government may have decided to spend more on sporting activities.

The government's flagship Khelo India programme witnessed an increase of Rs 316.29 crore in the 2021-22 budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday.

The financial allocation towards the Khelo India programme, which got Rs 657.71 crore in the last budget, was increased to Rs 974 crore.

The total encouragement and awards to sports persons have seen a substantial increase from Rs 245 crore to Rs 357 crore.

The Sports Authority of India's budget had been reduced by Rs 7.41 crore to Rs 653 crore.

The SAI is the nodal organisation to manage nationals camps, provide infrastructure, equipment and other logistics to the country's sportspersons.

The allocation towards the National Sports Development Fund has been reduced by Rs 9 crore to Rs 16 crore.

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