Question : National Sports Talent Search Scheme

(a) whether the Government has replaced the scheme for Identification and Nurturing of Sporting Talent in the country (INSTAL) with the National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) to identify and nurture sporting talent in district level sports schools and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the reasons for not allocating any funds for the implementation of INSTAL;
(c) whether all schools in the country have successfully conducted the Physical Efficiency and Sport Aptitude Tests (PESAT) under the NSTSS to shortlist four boys and four girls for the block/district level sports talent search and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the proposed time period for completing the process of identification of talented boys and girls and their enrollment in sports schools/academies for their training?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) to (d) In April, 2013 it was envisaged to establish District Level Sports Schools (DLSS) for Identification and Nurturing of Sporting Talent (INSTAL) in the country. Action was initiated to float an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting Bids for preparing Definitive Feasibility Report
(DFR) for establishment of DLSS. Meanwhile, in December, 2013, the concept of INSTAL underwent change. It was decided that instead of creating new DLSS, the Schools already existing in the country with adequate of sports infrastructure be explored with suitable methodology to identify the sporting talent amongst the students in those schools. Thus, the initial idea of establishing District Level Sports Schools (DLSS) was dropped and the same has been shelved.
On 09th June 2014, INSTAL was replaced by National Sports Talent Search System (NSTSS), which was launched on 25th February, 2015.
During the financial year 2015-16, as part of follow up action for implementation of NSTSS, it was decided to select a Knowledge & Marketing Partner to work with this Ministry for operations, scheduling and packaging of NSTSS.
In October, 2015 it was intimated by Finance Secretary that the ongoing Centrally Sponsored schemes in the Department may be suitably restructured as Central Sector Scheme. Hence, the three ongoing schemes, namely, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) were dovetailed under “Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports” with concurrence of Ministry of Finance in February, 2016 as a Central Sector Scheme from the financial year 2016-17 onwards. Accordingly, the scheme, “Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports” was formulated and launched on 22nd April, 2016. The objectives of the scheme are:
a) Mass participation of youth in annual sports competitions through a structured competition;
b) Identification of talent;
c) Guidance and nurturing of the talent through existing sports academies and new set up either by the central Government or State Government or in Public Private Partnership(PPP) mode; and
d) Creation of Sports Infrastructure at mofussil, Tehsil, District, State levels, etc.
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