India expands water sports training and funding for all other states; Why Karnataka is missing

India is strengthening water sports training and safety systems through national institutions and funding schemes, the government told Parliament on March 30, 2026. While several states have sought support for infrastructure and training, Karnataka has not submitted a proposal for coastal or district-level development. The effort includes training programs, safety standards and a national festival aimed at expanding participation in water sports.

A stretch of coastline can become a tourism hub with the right infrastructure. In Karnataka, that transformation has yet to begin on paper.

The Union government said no formal proposal has been submitted for developing water sports infrastructure in Coastal Karnataka or Dakshina Kannada district, even as other regions move to expand capacity.

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat disclosed the status in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on March 30, 2026, outlining how India is building its water sports ecosystem through training, funding and safety regulation.

NIWS training programs and India’s water sports capacity building

The National Institute of Water Sports, operating under the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, serves as the country’s nodal body for training and certification in water sports.

The institute conducts courses in scuba diving, surfing, parasailing, canoeing and related activities, focusing on skill development and safety compliance. Officials describe the training ecosystem as the foundation for scaling water-based tourism across India’s coastline and inland waterways.

Several states and union territories, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gujarat and Odisha, have approached the institute to establish satellite centres aimed at building local capacity and ensuring safety standards.

These centres are expected to support both tourism growth and workforce development, particularly in regions already seeing demand for water-based recreational activities.

A Reddit user, posting under the handle “coastalsportsfan” in a discussion on adventure tourism with more than 800 upvotes, said trained operators “make or break the experience,” pointing to safety and certification as key factors in attracting international tourists.

Khelo India funding and sports infrastructure support

Parallel to training initiatives, the government is funding sports infrastructure through schemes such as the Khelo India Scheme and the National Sports Development Fund.

Under these programs, financial assistance has been provided for facilities including swimming pools, synthetic tracks, hockey fields and multipurpose halls across the country.

Karnataka has received approval for one swimming pool project under these schemes, according to the minister’s statement. The broader infrastructure pipeline spans multiple states, with project details available on official dashboards maintained by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

While these projects are not limited to water sports, they contribute to the broader ecosystem needed to support aquatic training and competitive events.

Khelo India Water Sports Festival and participation push

The government has also begun promoting water sports through national-level events.

The first edition of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival was held in Srinagar, in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, from August 21 to August 23, 2025.

The event featured two competitive sports and three demonstration sports, drawing participation from 409 athletes along with support staff, technical officials and volunteers.

Officials said the festival was designed to increase visibility and participation in water sports, particularly among younger athletes and emerging talent pools.

The key features of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) 2025 are as follows:

Sports Discipline:

• Competitive: Kayaking & Canoeing, Rowing (2 Sports)
• Demo: Water Skiing, Shikara Race & Dragon Boat (3 Sports)

Age Category: Open Age Category. Top three States in the Medal Tally: –

National waterways and untapped potential

India has declared 111 national waterways, many of which are already being used for water sports activities by state governments.

These include major rivers such as the Ganga, Godavari, Krishna and Narmada, as well as regional systems like the Mandovi and canal networks in Kerala.

Despite this existing activity, the Ministry of Tourism said no formal proposal has been received to develop water sports infrastructure specifically linked to these waterways at a national level.

Development in these areas largely depends on state-led initiatives, with central support contingent on project proposals meeting technical feasibility, risk assessment and environmental carrying capacity criteria.

Safety standards and state-level enforcement mechanisms

Safety remains a central component of the government’s approach.

The National Institute of Water Sports has developed standard operating procedures and safety guidelines for various activities. These have been adopted by several states and union territories in their adventure tourism policies.

Technical support has been extended to regions including Goa, Gujarat, Odisha and Puducherry.

Enforcement, however, is handled at the state level. Mechanisms vary by region and include tourist police units in Goa, dedicated enforcement teams in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and state-level adventure tourism committees in Gujarat and Odisha.

Compliance is monitored through inspections, audits and regulatory oversight by local authorities.

Proposal-driven expansion leaves gaps

The government’s approach to water sports infrastructure remains proposal-driven, with funding tied to submissions from states and other eligible entities.

Projects are evaluated based on completeness, technical feasibility and environmental considerations, including risk assessments for coastal zones, rivers, reservoirs and lakes.

In the absence of proposals, regions such as Coastal Karnataka remain outside the current expansion pipeline, even as other states move ahead with training centres and infrastructure planning.

The gap highlights the uneven pace of development in India’s water sports sector, where institutional support exists but implementation depends on state-level initiative.

As the government continues to build training systems, safety frameworks and funding channels, the next phase of growth may hinge less on policy and more on participation from states yet to enter the pipeline.

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