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A report, claimed to be based on government records and Right to Information (RTI) data, has raised serious questions on how the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) is being utilised. According to The Indian Express, over the past five years, crores of Rupees from NSDF allocations which were meant to support elite sports programmes and infrastructure for athletes were directed towards civil services institutions, residential complexes for bureaucrats, and select organisations outside mainstream sporting bodies.
Between 2021 and 2025, allegedly, over Rs 6 crore from the fund was reportedly allocated to facilities linked to civil services associations and government residential colonies. Other expenditures cited include support for sports infrastructure
in bureaucratic institutions and grants to organisations not directly associated with elite sports development.
As per the publication, NSDF spending coincided with fluctuating contributions to the fund, with parliamentary scrutiny calling for stricter regulation and clearer separation between sports promotion objectives and the use of funds for non-sporting administrative beneficiaries.
Which brings us to the question: What exactly is the NSDF and what is its purpose?
According to the official government website, the NSDF, set up in 1998 (under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890), was launched to strengthen India’ss sporting ecosystem by channelising financial support for athletes, infrastructure and sports promotion.
According to official provisions, the fund is meant to provide flexible and targeted assistance to help sportspersons train under international coaches, improve facilities, and enhance India’s performance in global competitions.
The NSDF, managed under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and operationally linked with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), is aimed at mobilising resources from government and non-government sources for sports development.
Its stated objectives include funding elite training, upgrading infrastructure, supporting research and innovation in sports science, and enabling international exposure for Indian athletes.
A key programme supported through the fund is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which focuses on identifying and assisting medal prospects for major international events, including the Olympics. Under this framework, athletes are provided structured support such as international training exposure, sports science assistance, performance analysis, coaching access, and logistical facilitation including visa support and specialised training arrangements.
Officially, the NSDF is also intended to finance the construction and maintenance of sports infrastructure, supply equipment to institutions and individuals, and promote specific disciplines to improve India’s overall sporting performance.
Additionally, it aims to encourage international cooperation in sports and support research and development initiatives in the field.
