The Parliamentary Permanent Sport Committee declared by the Indian Sports Office of India (SAI), “critically” insufficiently financed and insufficiently qualified and underlined, noted that international performance of India is not “far satisfactory” and also raises concerns about lack of use of the Fund in the Khelo India.
Committee headed by the Congress “Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh noted this Sai is Financial health is essential for the international performance of the country in the country and urged the sports ministry to not only increase the allocation, but also have the target approach to sports in which India is likely to win more medals.
“…. Identify with clinical accuracy several sports events in which we had the best chance to win medals and avert most of the sources that raise talents in hand in such sports to achieve international standards and win medals for the country,” he said.
The committee, which also includes cricket and AAP Rajya Sabha Harbhajan Singh, and BJP’s Sambit palate and Bansuri Swwaj, expressed “serious” concerns about the lack of employees and low financing SAI.
“The committee is covered (sic) to observe that the budget of SAI is critically low … More national centers of excellence are required. This apparently needs a higher budget allocation for SAI.
“… about 45 percent of sanctioned functions in the Office are currently unoccupied. The fact that these shortcomings in employees are managed by contractual appointment can at best be only ad hoc.
“The significant crisis of staff in coaching and scientific cadres is really very alarming because it substantially undermines coaching athletes and threatening their chances of getting medals,” it emphasized.
The panel “Heard the views of the Sport Secretary and the SAI representative at his meeting held on June 6”.
He praised the recruitment efforts to occupy these vacancies, but asked the Ministry of Sport to complete this process in the next six months and “provide an event report”.
Although he appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Sport, the Panel said that success in terms of medals won at the main international sports events such as the Olympics are far from satisfactory.
“… Although medals have improved at international sports events compared to the past, we still need to work tirelessly. It is extremely painful that we could not win a single gold medal at the last Olympials in 2024 and most of the Olympics.”
“… There is a certain gap or shortage at this respect in this respect … The committee notes that the ministry’s efforts and the corporate contribution in the development of a sports ecosystem show late, some positive results.”
Concerns around India Khelo
The panel also noted the “concerns” that in the last two financial years the funds for the flagship of the government Scheme khelo india They were diverted to the National Centers Excellency (NCOE) SAI.
“This diversion rejected the rare funds of RS 38.79 Crores to the Khelo India system. It is more alarming because 122.30 crore assigned funds in this system were also returned to the India consolidated fund,” he noted.
“… such a practice of diversion of funds from one central scheme to another is not healthy because it reflects a bad estimate, planning and implementation by the central system.”
The Committee revealed that the Khelo India system has been approved
Cabinet from 2021-22 to 2025-26. He recommended that the system be embedded in the SAI operational structure afterwards.
“The current Khelo India system as such works within 31 of March 2026. The Committee notes that the forfeiture of the Khelo India system offers the Ministry the opportunity to permanently insert the Khelo India scheme in the organizational structure of SAI and create dedicated positions of employees in SAI in SAI.
“The Committee therefore recommends that the budget for sport
The department will be maintained and that SAI takes over existing responsibilities
Khelo India, including the payment of funds to other government agencies, ”he said.
The report also stated that the ministry acknowledged that the amount of Rs. 19.50 Crore was assigned to the development of the playground within the Khelo India system, but was not spent “due to lack of design of eligible entities”.
“In this respect, the Committee recommends starting consultation with” eligible entities “and trying to find out the lack of enthusiasm for their part for this component and properly dealing with their concern if they exist. The Committee also recommends the provision of ATR (Action Action Report) on this matter. ”
– ends
Published:
Amar Pancker
Published on:
August 20, 2025
