Budget boost but time for ministry to take new approach to Khelo India

It was far from a great campaign for Indian sports last year.

- Indraneel Das

It was far from a great campaign for Indian sports last year. From the Paris Olympics, where India could not match Tokyo 2020 in terms of medal, to feuding Indian Olympic Association, infighting in a few National Sports Federations (NSFs) and ambiguity over their recognition by the sports ministry, it had not been that great.

But the sports budget will bring some cheer. There has been an increase of about Rs 352 crore compared to last financial year—from Rs 3442.32 crore to Rs 3794.30 crore. If compared with the revised figures of Rs 3232.85 crore, then the increase is quite significant—Rs 562 crore. The sports ministry's flagship programme Khelo India once again saw an increase of Rs 200 crore from Rs 800 crore (revised from allocated budget of Rs 900 of 2024-25).