SRINAGAR: The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released Rs 195.05 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Package to enhance sports facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Responding to an unstarred question by MP Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the development of sports facilities, coaching personnel, funding and athlete employment is primarily the responsibility of State and Union Territory governments, with the Centre supplementing their efforts by bridging critical gaps.
The allocation includes Rs 37.68 crore for the renovation and development of Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar to FIFA standards and Rs 43.80 crore for the upgradation of Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu to meet international cricket requirements. The package also provides Rs 85.57 crore for the construction of 22 multipurpose indoor halls across the Union Territory, along with additional funding for stadium upgrades, water sports infrastructure, lighting systems and sports equipment.
The multipurpose halls, each estimated at approximately Rs 4 crore, are planned for locations including Sehpora (Ganderbal), Ramnagar (Udhampur), Shadipora Sumbal (Bandipora), Billawar (Kathua), Bhagwati Nagar (Jammu), Samba, Qaimoh (Kulgam), Bijbehara (Anantnag), Tral (Pulwama), Budgam, Ellahi Bagh (Srinagar), Handwara (Kupwara), Koteranka (Rajouri), Reasi, Rajpora (Pulwama), Doda, Mir Gund Pattan (Baramulla), Kubathang (Kargil), Mandi (Poonch), Kishtwar, Shopian and Gool (Ramban). The package also earmarks Rs 10 crore for completion of Subhash Stadium in Udhampur and smaller allocations for lighting systems and equipment.
The ministry said its infrastructure schemes, including Khelo India and the National Sports Development Fund, are demand-driven, with project details available on official dashboards. It reported that five editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been conducted with more than 4,500 participants, and that the first Khelo India Water Sports Festival was held at Dal Lake in 2025. The ministry added that 80 Past Champion Athletes are currently engaged across 100 Khelo India Centres in Jammu and Kashmir, with a total of 80 coaches deployed across districts.
Nationwide expenditure under central sports development schemes was reported as Rs 1,748.76 crore in 2021–22, Rs 1,879.99 crore in 2022–23, Rs 2,329.35 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 2,136.97 crore in 2024–25. The ministry also noted limited direct recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir since 2021, comprising four coaches appointed by the Sports Authority of India and contractual engagement of one administrative staff member, one groundsman and two sanitation workers at the Jammu Sports Training Centre.
It further stated that selections for scholarships and national camps follow prescribed eligibility criteria and performance benchmarks, with National Sports Federations conducting merit-based selections through constituted committees using verifiable competition data. The ministry emphasised that funds are allocated scheme-wise rather than district-wise.
