Central Government announces a Rs 300 Crore increase in Sports budget allocation for 2022-23

This year’s union budget for 2022-23 has been a great one considering the sports budget allocation as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has allocated an increase of almost Rs 300 Crore rupees for the players and the sports organizations. However, some sports organizations have witnessed a decrease in their allocation as well. Nehru Yuva Khel Sangathan and Rajeev Gandhi Rashtriya Yuva Vikas Sansthan have witnessed a cut in their budget with the former’s allocation decreasing from Rs 365 to Rs 325 Crore this year

The Central government had announced a sports budget allocation of Rs 2596 crore in the Union budget of 2021-2022 financial year which was already less by approximately Rs 230 Crores from its previous financial year allocation i.e., in the year 2020 when hardly any sports events and activities were able to take place. Out of the total allocated amount in the previous budget, Rs.2,549.41 crore had been earmarked as a revenue budget that sports departments use for basic expenses, such as salaries of employees, while Rs.46.73 crore had been set aside for capital expenses that include the construction of facilities/new stadia etc.

As far as the total 2022-23 Union budget sports allocation is concerned, the amount had been hovering around Rs 2,500-2,800 crore, 0.5-0.10 percent of the total budget. But to every sports organization and player’s delight, the sports budget has been increased to Rs 3062 Crores instead, showing the attention being given towards the development of the country’s sporting potential.