Sports Ministry raises event aid to Rs 50 crore, plans Olympic Training Centres

The Sports Ministry has increased the financial assistance available to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for hosting 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 sporting ecosystem ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid to host the 2036 Olympics.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the revised operational guidelines on Friday, October 16, with the government approving the continuation of the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations for 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 Asian Games medallists in New Delhi. India is also set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

The revised ceiling of Rs 50 crore is not an automatic allocation. The assistance will depend on the nature and importance of the event, the number of participating countries and athletes, and an 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 giving national federations greater financial support to organise events at home. The revised



scheme also provides assistance of up to Rs 50 crore for the conduct of the National Games, covering sports equipment, timing, scoring and results services, remuneration for technical officials and other technical requirements.

One of the key additions is the proposed establishment of Olympic Training Centres (OTCs), specialised facilities dedicated to individual sports and equipped with modern training infrastructure, sports science equipment and expert personnel. Elite athletes training at these centres will be eligible for support towards coaches and technical staff, sports science services, specialised equipment and technical assistance.

The stated objective is to provide high-quality training within India and reduce dependence on overseas facilities. The centres are expected to complement existing training arrangements at National Centres 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 earmark at least 20 per cent of their annual assistance budget for grassroots development through affiliated units. The scheme also mandates annual national championships for men and women across senior, junior and sub-junior categories, subject to the prescribed eligibility and participation norms.