Sports Ministry increases aid to events to Rs 50 crore, plans Olympic preparation centers

The Sports Ministry has increased the financial assistance available to National Sports Federations (NSFs) to host international tournaments in India from Rs 2 crore to up to Rs 50 crore, as part of a revised funding scheme aimed at strengthening the country’s sports ecosystem ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid to host the 2036 Olympics.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced revised operational guidelines on Friday, October 16, with the government approving the continuation of the National Sports Federations Assistance Scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total outlay of Rs 7,386.74 crore. The announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics while interacting with medalists from the Asian Games in New Delhi. India is also slated to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

The revised ceiling of Rs 50 crore is not an automatic allotment. The assistance will depend on the nature and importance of the event, the number of participating countries and athletes and the assessment of proposals by a designated committee headed by the Sports Secretary.

The increase is intended to strengthen India’s ability to host international competitions while providing national federations with greater financial support to host events at home. The revised system also provides assistance of up to Rs 50 crore for the conduct of national games, including sports equipment, timing, scoring and results services, remuneration for technical officials and other technical requirements.

The changes go beyond the organization of competitions. The scheme is the main channel through which the Government supports athletes preparing for major international events, including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Paralympic Games and World Championships.

Under this programme, recognized federations can get assistance for national coaching camps, academy training, food and accommodation, sports kits, insurance and sports science services. Funding also covers foreign coaches, high performance directors, physiotherapists, doctors and other support staff, along with overseas training and competition.

OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER

One of the key additions is the proposed establishment of Olympic Training Centers (OTCs), specialized facilities dedicated to individual sports and equipped with modern training infrastructure, sports science equipment and professional staff. Elite athletes training at these centers will be entitled to the support of coaches and technical staff, sports science services, specialized equipment and technical assistance.

The stated objective is to provide high quality training in India and reduce dependence on overseas facilities. The centers are expected to complement existing educational arrangements at national centers of excellence, academies and private facilities.

The revised guidelines also place greater emphasis on building a pipeline of athletes and coaches. National sports federations are required to allocate at least 20 percent of their annual aid budget to local development through affiliated units. The program also mandates annual national championships for men and women across senior, junior and sub-junior categories, subject to prescribed eligibility and participation standards.

DIRECTOR of the NSF

For coach development, at least 10 percent of funding must be allocated to coach and technical staff development plans. Federations with an annual budget of Rs 10 crore or more must appoint a high-performing director. The guidelines also cap the remuneration of foreign coaches at 30 percent of the federation’s total approved budget and require federations to field at least five Indian coaches alongside foreign experts.

These provisions seek to balance access to international expertise with the development of domestic coaching capacity. The revised framework also categorizes sports as high priority, priority and general, replacing the earlier ‘Other’ category with different aid limits for national championships.

The scheme introduces provisions to expand the international reach of indigenous sports. Federations governing traditional Indian disciplines may seek support in securing their inclusion as demonstration events in global competitions, establishing national federations in other countries and supporting international or continental bodies operating from India.

India will also be able to use its existing high-performance facilities to enhance sports cooperation with countries in the Global South. The revised system provides scholarships and subsidized access to training facilities for athletes and coaches from partner countries. Financial support has also been included for sports competitions, conferences, workshops and research involving multilateral groupings such as BRICS and BIMSTEC.

The revised guidelines set out a broader framework for planning and accountability, with federations expected to submit detailed plans in line with the four-year Olympic cycle, broken down into annual estimates. The scheme also provides centralized digital systems for tracking data and performance.

While a higher funding cap could help India attract more international competitions and improve preparations for major events, the impact will depend on how federations use the aid, the quality of their proposals and the implementation of the new provisions.

With another five-year funding cycle covering preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the country’s long-term Olympic ambitions, the revised scheme seeks to link government spending not just to participation in competitions, but also to training infrastructure, local development and the wider governance of Indian sport.

KEY CHANGES

International events: Financial assistance of up to Rs 50 crore to host international tournaments in India, up from the earlier ceiling of Rs 2 crore.
National Games: Assistance up to Rs 50 crore for equipment, timing, scoring, score services and technical operations.
Olympic Training Centers: Designed sport-specific centers with state-of-the-art equipment, sports science services and expert support for elite athletes.
Local Development: NSF must allocate at least 20% of its annual aid budget to local programs through affiliates.
Coach development: At least 10% of the funds must go to the development of coaches and technical staff. The federation must also prepare at least five Indian coaches in addition to foreign experts.
High Performance Management: NSFs with an annual budget of 10 million rupees or more must appoint a high performance director.
Funding Cycle: The scheme has an approved outlay of Rs 7,386.74 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.

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