Every year, the Union Budget sets aside thousands of crores of rupees for sports development in India. This money supports athletes, builds infrastructure, funds training programmes, and helps India prepare for international competitions.



Within this overall spending, football occupies an interesting position. It is one of the most widely followed sports in the country, played across schools, colleges, clubs, and neighbourhood grounds. Yet, when central government spending is examined closely, football accounts for
a very small share of the total sports budget.

1. How India Spends on Sports at the Central Level At the national level, sports funding is allocated through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). The ministry’s budget covers:

• Athlete training and preparation
  


• National sports federations
  


• Infrastructure and academies
  


• Multi-sport programmes such as Khelo India
  

Central Sports Budget (MYAS Allocations) According to Union Budget documents and Demands for Grants, allocations over the last several years have been as follows:





Financial Year Allocation (₹ crore)

2018–19	2,196
2019–20	2,216
2020–21	2,826
2021–22	2,596
2022–23	3,062
2023–24	3,397
2024–25	3,442

What this shows:

India’s central sports spending has grown steadily in absolute terms over time, with a particular focus on athlete development, infrastructure, and international competitiveness.




Source: Union Budget of India, MYAS Demands for Grants

2. How Football Is Funded Centrally

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Football receives central government funding primarily through grants given to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF).



These grants are meant to support:

• National teams
  


• Domestic competitions
  


• Coaching and refereeing programmes
  


• Grassroots and youth initiatives
  

AIFF Central Grants (Selected Years) Based on MYAS documents, parliamentary answers, and official disclosures, the grants to AIFF have been approximately:







Financial Year Grant (₹ crore)

2018–19	~16
2019–20	~14
2020–21	~11
2021–22	~10
2022–23	~9
2023–24	~14
2024–25	8.78

The FY 2024–25 figure of ₹8.78 crore comes from MYAS Demands for Grants and parliamentary disclosures. These grants are the direct central government contribution to the AIFF.




Source: MYAS Demands for Grants, Parliamentary responses, reported official figures

3. Where the ~0.3% Figure Comes From

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Using FY 2024–25, the calculation is straightforward:

• Total sports budget (MYAS): ₹3,442 crore
  


• Football grant (AIFF): ₹8.78 crore
  
  

8.783442×100≈0.25%\frac{8.78}{3442} \times 100 \approx 0.25\%34428.78×100≈0.25%



This means that in that year, football received about one-quarter of one percent of central sports spending.



When similar calculations are applied to earlier years, football’s share generally falls within the 0.2%–0.4% range, which is why it is often referred to as “around 0.3%”.

4. Commentary and Public Statements from Football Stakeholders While most of the funding and governance processes are administrative, key individuals within Indian football have publicly commented on broader challenges affecting the sport.



Sunil Chhetri

Mumbai, Dec 14 (ANI): Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri during an exhibition match as part of Lionel Messi's G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 at Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

Sunil Chhetri - India’s most capped footballer and one of its highest-profile athletes, has addressed the state of Indian football in public statements:

• In 2025, Chhetri and other Indian Super League (ISL) players released a public plea urging authorities to restart the ISL season, signalling concern over the operational uncertainty that affected players and staff. The statement described the situation as “a standstill” and expressed urgency for action.

• In a separate 2025 social media post, Chhetri characterized the football ecosystem’s situation as “very concerning” during a period when the league’s season was under threat due to contractual and administrative issues. He noted that players, coaches, and support staff were anxious about the future.
  

These statements reflect the player community’s perspective on broader institutional challenges, not specific budget figures.

5. How This Share Has Changed Over Time While the total sports budget increased, football’s central funding did not rise at the same pace.

As a result:

• In earlier years (around 2018–19), football’s share was closer to 0.7–0.8%
  


• Over time, as overall sports spending expanded, football’s percentage share declined
  


• By the mid-2020s, it settled at around 0.25–0.3%
  

This change is driven by relative growth, not by any single cut or decision.