Petty pilfering from sports development fund discouraging sportspersons: Cong

The Congress has accused the government of misusing funds from the National Sports Development Fund, diverting them to luxury sports complexes for IAS officers and welfare associations.

The Congress on Friday said ''petty pilfering'' from the National Sports Development Fund is discouraging the country's sportspersons at a time when India hopes to host the Olympics.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted media reports how money donated to the Fund were being used for sports complexes in residences of IAS officers and welfare associations.

''In August 2025, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports had flagged that funds donated to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) were being used to fund sports complexes in IAS officers' residences and welfare associations,'' he said.

Citing media reports, he said a deeper investigation uncovered the spanking sports facilities built for babus.

''These lavish projects were bankrolled by the same fund which supports the Targeted Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) – the Government's flagship project to support our finest athletes who stand a chance to win an Olympic medal.

''At a time when the nation hopes to host the Olympics itself, such petty pilfering only discourage our sportspersons,'' Ramesh said.

He said given the way in which funds have been used, it is unsurprising that donations to the NSDF have shrunk from Rs 85.26 crore in FY 2023-24 to Rs 37.02 crore in FY 2025-26.

The fund is governed by a Council headed by the Union Sports Minister.

''This is the same Parliamentary Committee that Mantri Pradhan had rejected and dismissed for having members of the Opposition. It is now for his colleague in the Ministry of Sports to take corrective action against the IAS officers' lobby or to play petty politics,'' the Congress leader said.