India: Sports ministry gets Rs 700 crore-plus boost in Union Budget 2023

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India has received an increase in its budget allocation in Union Budget 2023. It has received an increase of Rs 724.72 crores compared to the revised 2022-2023 budget, making it the highest-ever allocation at Rs 3389.56 crores for the year 2023-2024.

Khelo India, a scheme that helps athletes at the ground level, received an allocation of Rs 1045 crores. The Assistance to National Sports Federation received Rs 235 crores. Sports Authority of India, the apex national sports body of India, received Rs 785.52 crores.

Around Rs 37 crores has been allocated to the Commonwealth Games. The budget allocated to other autonomous bodies like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development is Rs 1435.58 crores.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), affiliated with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), will now get funding directly.

The biggest beneficiary of National Sports Federations funds could be the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Sports Budget Allocation 2023-24

• Khelo India: Rs 1045 Cr
• SAI: 785.52 Cr
• National Sports Federations: 325 Cr
• National Service Scheme: 325 Cr
• National Sports Development Fund: Rs 15 Cr

The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, presented the budget for 2023-24 at the parliament on Wednesday. Sitharaman also announced various programmes in the healthcare sector. A new programme for research in pharmaceuticals would be set up and 157 new nursing colleges will be established in India.

The Finance Minister also announced that the new tax regime will now be the default tax regime. She announced an increase in the income tax rebate limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh under the new tax regime. Sitharaman also proposed to reduce the highest surcharge rate from 37% to 25% under the new tax regime for the next fiscal year.