The Ministry of Tourism through its autonomous institute “National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS–IITTM)” conducts courses related to scuba diving, diving, surfing, parasailing, canoeing and other water sports. NIWS-IITTM is the nodal Government institution for training, certification and capacity building in water sports in India.

At present, no formal proposal is with the Ministry of Tourism for development of water sports infrastructure in Coastal Karnataka. However, some States/UTs such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gujarat and Odisha have approached NIWS–IITTM for establishment of satellite centres to support capacity building and safe water-based tourism.

Further, under the “Creation and Up-gradation of Sports Infrastructure” component of the Khelo India Scheme (KIS) and National Sports Development Funds (NSDF), financial assistance has been provided for development of sports infrastructure such as synthetic athletic track, synthetic hockey field, synthetic turf football ground, multipurpose hall, swimming pool etc. Projects have been sanctioned across the country including 01 project of Swimming Pool in the State of Karnataka. The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved and their sanctioned cost, funds released and their physical and financial progress, under the KIS and NSDF, across the country including in the State of Karnataka are available in public domain on the dashboards of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and at http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html, respectively.

At present, no formal proposal is with the Ministry of Tourism for development of water sports infrastructure at Dakshin Kannada district.

First edition of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival was held from 21st August to 23rd August 2025 in Srinagar, UT of Jammu and Kashmir to promote Water Sports and to enhance the reach and popularity of Water Sports.

The Games were conducted in 2 competitive sports and 3 Demo Sports with the participation of 409 Athletes, 82 Support Staff, 65 Technical Officials, 55 Sports Specific Volunteers, 2 Competition Managers etc.

At present, no formal proposal is with the Ministry of Tourism for exploring 111 declared National Waterways for water sports. However, several National Waterways are already being utilized for water sports activities by respective State Governments. These include, inter alia: Ganga (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand), Sutlej (Himachal Pradesh), Indus (Ladakh), Chenab, Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Sabarmati, Netravati, Sharavati, Tungabhadra, Mandovi, Chapora, Ghataprabha, Ravi and canal systems in Kerala.

Image Credit-IBT Times