Kolkata

West Bengal Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Indranil Khan on Monday praised the state's 2026-27 budget, describing it as “unprecedented” in its commitment to sports development and youth welfare.

Presenting the budget in the Assembly, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening sports infrastructure, supporting athletes and creating opportunities for young people across the state.

Among the major proposals is the establishment of a sports university with an investment of Rs 150 crore. The government has also earmarked funds for the construction of two indoor and outdoor stadium complexes in north Bengal and allocated Rs 100 crore for the renovation of existing sports facilities, including Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

In another significant initiative, mini indoor stadiums will be developed in every Assembly constituency under the Khelo India framework, with an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore per stadium.

To encourage sporting excellence, the state government has proposed financial assistance of up to Rs 1 crore for sports clubs participating in national competitions. A separate Rs 50-crore athlete reward fund will also be created to honour sportspersons who win medals and accolades at national and international events.

Khan said the scale of investment represented a major shift from previous approaches to sports administration.

“No earlier government made such substantial allocations for sports and youth welfare. The impact of these investments will become visible over the next two to three years,” he said.

According to the minister, the new measures will improve coaching infrastructure, nutrition support and institutional backing for athletes, helping West Bengal produce stronger performances on national and global stages.

New Support Measures for Youth

The budget also introduced a number of initiatives targeting education and employment among young people.

Under the newly announced Bharosa Scheme, unemployed graduates aged 21-45 years from families earning less than Rs 1 lakh annually will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000, while eligible non-graduates will receive Rs 2,000 per month. The scheme replaces the earlier Yuva Sathi programme.

Additionally, students enrolled in government and state-aided colleges preparing for competitive examinations will receive a one-time grant of Rs 30,000.

The government has also expanded the Swami Vivekananda Merit Scholarship, which will now cover full tuition fees and health insurance for students admitted to the world’s top 100 universities for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

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Khan said the combined focus on sports, education and employment reflects the state's broader effort to promote talent, improve opportunities and strengthen youth development across West Bengal.