While stadiums roar and billions flood in the IPL each year, an austere question persists: what happens if even a fraction of this money has built the future of India instead of simply entertaining it?
Professor Mayank Shrivastava by IISC Bengaluru stresses that if a simple 40% tax was applied only to the IPL BCCI profits, nearly 15,000 crores could have been increased over three years, which could finance 10 new IITs or create a national corpus of deep technology. “Adding franchise profits (800 ₹ to 1,200 crore / year) and another ₹ 320 to 480 crores could be collected each year. In total, nearly 6,000 crores per year could be redirected in research, just from the IPL ecosystem,” he writes.
Just in the 2023, BCCI reported an excess of 5,120 sterling books, with income affecting 11,770 sterling books, mainly supplied by media rights. With income scheduled for 2024 and 2025 reaching 12,000 to 13,500 ₹ per year, the scale is only growing.
However, the BCCI benefits from income tax exemptions under its charitable status. Franchises belonging to billionaires also benefit from favorable tax treatment, while players’ salaries are taxed individually. “Entertainment is subsidized. Research is taxed,” notes Shrivastava, stressing the irony that research institutions pay TPS on laboratory equipment and consumables.
The model is not limited to cricket. Bollywood Productions receives tax reductions. Religious trustees maintain large commercial empires without paying taxes. The new sports leagues benefit from start -up tax days. Shrivastava argues that even a modest tax in these booming sectors could generate thousands of crores for scientific and technological development.
“Indian Indians is not lacking in money. What we lack is the vision of investing in the future,” he said. Rapid return companies dominate, while long -term investments in research and innovation are considered “high -risk and low yield” activities.
Shrivastava concludes: “Entertainment maintains the living present. Research built the future. It is time for India to start not only rapid reputation, but future manufacturers.”
