THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 31,
2026
The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a
revamped Khelo India Scheme and an enhanced Assistance to National Sports
Federations (ANSFs) with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for the 2026-27
to 2030-31 period, marking the country's biggest-ever investment in sports
development since Independence.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, the Cabinet cleared an outlay that is nearly eight times larger than the
previous Khelo India programme, underscoring the government's push to make
sports a key pillar of youth development and position India as a global
sporting powerhouse.
The revamped scheme aims to create an
integrated pathway for young athletes, ensuring that talent from schools,
villages and grassroots competitions progresses seamlessly to elite training
centres and ultimately the Olympic podium.
Aligned with the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025
and the National Education Policy 2020, the scheme seeks to integrate sports
with education, fitness, technology and high-performance training while
supporting India's preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid to
host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A comprehensive athlete development
framework has been introduced to support sportspersons from talent
identification to international competition. The scheme will strengthen the
existing network of National Centres of Excellence, Khelo India Centres of
Excellence, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India Accredited Academies, Khelo India
Centres and Youth Sports Companies of the Armed Forces with enhanced coaching,
sports science and infrastructure.
To strengthen the school sports ecosystem,
the government has announced two new initiatives — Khelo India Feeder Schools
and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas — to integrate sports with mainstream
education and facilitate early identification and systematic nurturing of
talented children.
One of the key reforms is the
introduction of the Emerging Khelo India Athletes category alongside the
existing Khelo India Athletes programme. The move is expected to expand the
structured athlete development ecosystem nearly ten-fold by bringing thousands
of additional youngsters under professional coaching, scientific support and
long-term mentoring.
The scheme also envisages a stronger
nationwide talent identification system involving dedicated committees, zonal
bodies, talent scouts and high-performance managers to identify and monitor
promising athletes across the country.
Officials said the revamped programme
will provide a clear progression route from grassroots competitions to Khelo
India and eventually to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), enabling
athletes to receive world-class coaching, international exposure and scientific
support.
The government has also proposed a
significant expansion of domestic competitions by supporting school,
university, regional and sport-specific leagues alongside national
championships to provide athletes with regular competitive opportunities.
Special emphasis has been placed on
increasing participation of women athletes, para-athletes and indigenous sports
while promoting sports as a tool for inclusion, peace and community
development. The scheme will also support the organisation of the National
Games and hosting of major international sporting events in India.
As part of the broader initiative, the
Fit India Movement will be expanded through nationwide campaigns encouraging
active lifestyles, women's participation, outreach in border and remote areas
and sports-based programmes against substance abuse.
To strengthen coaching standards, the
government will establish a National Coach Accreditation Board to standardise
coaching qualifications and improve the quality of coaches and support staff. A
unified digital sports platform will also be developed to integrate athlete
databases, competitions, infrastructure, coaching resources and funding for
data-driven governance.
The Cabinet also approved a strengthened Assistance to National Sports Federations scheme for 2026-31, under which federations will receive enhanced funding for coaching, sports science, modern equipment, foreign experts, training camps, international exposure and participation in major global competitions. The scheme will additionally promote sports cooperation with countries of the Global South and showcase India's indigenous sports internationally.
The government said the revamped Khelo India programme represents a national mission to create a seamless pathway from grassroots talent to global sporting success while strengthening India's sporting ecosystem and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
