The Indian government increased the overall sports budget by ?258 crore for the financial year 2018–19, taking the total allocation to around ?2196 crore compared to ?1938 crore in the previous year. This rise indicated a stronger push toward sports development at the national level. (The Times of India)
Despite the overall increase, funding for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) was reduced by about ?66 crore. The allocation dropped from approximately ?495 crore to ?429 crore, which raised concerns since SAI plays a key role in training and supporting athletes. (The Times of India)
A major highlight of the budget was the significant boost to the government’s Khelo India programme, which received over ?520 crore—making it the largest beneficiary. The initiative focuses on grassroots sports development, showing a shift in priority toward building future talent rather than only funding existing systems. (The Times of India)