Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the general budget in Parliament today. A bumper increase has also been made in the sports budget 2023. The central government has presented a budget of Rs 3397.32 crore for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which is Rs 723.97 crore more than the last year’s budget.
In the last few years, Indian athletes have shone all over the world. Be it the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, India’s medal tally has increased. The expenditure being made by the central government on sports and sportspersons has contributed significantly to this. In such a situation, there may be an increase in the sports budget 2023 as well. Last year also there was an increase of Rs 305.58 crore in the sports budget.
Talking about the sports budget, there was a huge cut in it during Corona. The sports budget in the year 2020-21 was Rs 2826.92 crore. It was cut by Rs 230.78 crore in 2021-22 i.e. the sports budget in 2021-22 was Rs 2596.14 crore, which was revised to Rs 2757.02 crore. In view of the performance of Indian players in the Olympics in 2021, it increased to Rs 305.58 crore. Last year the total budget was 3062.60. Now it has become Rs 723.97 crore.
India had won a total of seven medals in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Despite all the difficulties and restrictions due to Corona, the Indian players performed brilliantly. After this, the performance of Indian athletes in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 was excellent. India won a total of 61 medals. Sports activities have now resumed in the country in a phased manner and 2023 is a very important season with global events in the form of the Hangzhou Asian Games.
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In such a situation, the increase in the sports budget 2023 by the government can help in improving sports facilities. This year India has to participate in many world championships apart from the Asian Games. The Sports Ministry bears the expenses of competition and practices abroad for preparations for all multi-sports including the Olympics. Rs 890.42 crore was allocated in the budget for the year 2020-21 for Khelo India. After this, Rs 232.71 crore was cut for Khelo India in the sports budget of 2021-22. In the year 2021-22, this item was reduced to Rs 657.71 crore. At the same time, Rs 316 crore 29 lakh was increased in the Khelo India program in 2022-23 and it was increased to Rs 974 crore.
