The West Bengal government's first state budget, presented on Monday by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, includes significant allocations for sports infrastructure. Key highlights are a new sports university with Rs 150 crore, an international stadium in North Bengal, and renovation of existing venues.
First Sports University in West Bengal
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Services and Sports, Indranil Khan, told ANI that for the first time in the state's history, a budgetary provision has been made for a sports university. The university will cover Olympic sports, football, cricket, hockey, shooting, athletics, archery, and more. Khan stated, "It is our vision that within the next decade, the sportspersons of West Bengal, taking all the support, should not only make West Bengal proud but also become the pride of the entire country and emerge as medalists in various Commonwealth Games, Olympics, etc."
International Stadium in North Bengal
An international outdoor stadium with an athletics track and an indoor stadium are planned in North Bengal with a budget of Rs 20 crore. Khan noted that North Bengal has been deprived for years and this stadium will provide proper facilities for athletes.
Renovation of Existing Stadiums
Rs 100 crore has been allocated for renovating neglected stadiums, including Kolkata's Rabindra Sarobar Stadium and Kanchenjunga Stadium. Khan emphasized that these stadiums have been neglected and this special allocation will address their development.
Khelo India Initiative and Other Allocations
Under the Khelo India initiative, mini indoor stadiums will be built in every assembly constituency at Rs 5 crore each. Khan said, "For years, our sportspersons were deprived. Now, Khelo India is being implemented, and the benefit of this Khelo India will reach every assembly constituency."
Additionally, sports clubs participating in national-level competitions will receive Rs 1 crore each. A Rs 50 crore corpus fund has been created for prize money for winners of national and international events.
Total Budget and Other Schemes
The total budget outlay for 2026-27 is Rs 4,38,775.29 crore. The "Bhorsha Kormosuchi" scheme provides Rs 3,000 monthly allowance to unemployed graduates and Rs 2,000 to other eligible unemployed youth aged 21-45 with family income below Rs 1 lakh. Students preparing for competitive exams will get one-time assistance of Rs 30,000, and the Swami Vivekananda Merit Scholarship will cover tuition and health insurance for students admitted to top 100 global universities.
Preparations for National Games
The state is also preparing to host the National Games, focusing on infrastructure and overall sports development.
