New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February announced a sweeping 10-year plan to reshape India’s sports ecosystem during the Union Budget 2026-2027, under the Khelo India Mission. The mission aims to systematically develop sporting talent nationwide, while also expanding opportunities in sports-related employment, skill development, and job creation.
In the Khelo India Mission, there will be enhanced training for coaches and support staff, greater use of sports science and technology, and promotion of tournaments and leagues. Sitharaman also said that the development of modern sports infrastructure for training and competitions will be a key component of this mission.
“The sports sector provides multiple avenues for employment, skilling, and job creation. Building on the systematic nurturing of talent already set in motion through the Khelo India Programme (2017), I propose to launch a Khelo India Mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade,” said the finance minister Sunday.
This initiative comes at a time when India is preparing to host the 100th Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030, while bidding to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
By anchoring the Khelo India Mission in a 10-year horizon, Sitharaman signalled the government’s intention to embed sports deeply within India’s development priorities, rather than treating it only as a programme.
“I propose a dedicated initiative for high-quality sports goods manufacturing, research and innovation in equipment design, as well as material science,” said Sitharaman.
Sports journalist Sharda Ugra told ThePrint that Khelo India has always focused on providing athletes with competitions, both in terms of variety and numbers, and that better infrastructure in the future could give athletes more opportunities. She also emphasised that these changes depend on where, how, and when the work is carried out.
“Changing of names is making me smile, but we’ll see in 10 years time what happens,” she said.
Speaking about the changes Sitharaman outlined under the initiative for athletes, coaches, and the broader sports ecosystem, Nandan Kamath, managing trustee of GoSports Foundation, an independent, donor-funded non-profit venture, told ThePrint that these measures will open new pathways for talent and athletes. He added that such initiatives, when effectively implemented at scale, can bridge the gaps between potential and performance, talent and opportunity, and grassroots and elite sport.
“The announcement of the Khelo India Mission in the 2026 Sports Budget is a welcome step towards holistic ecosystem building. The dual focus on systems capacity and sports livelihoods has the potential to drive excellence and positively impact participation rates and talent progression,” said Kamath.
Also Read: Who gains, who loses in India’s $133 billion infrastructure push and derivatives tax hike?
Khelo India budget
The Khelo India Programme was launched in 2017–18 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a flagship initiative for youth sports development under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Its purpose is to identify and nurture emerging sporting talent nationwide, provide access to quality training and competitive platforms, and develop grassroots sports infrastructure.
In an X post, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami praised the launch of the Khelo India Mission.
“Under the visionary leadership of Honourable Prime Minister @NarendraModi ji, the Khelo India Mission, presented in the Union Budget 2026, will become a powerful medium to elevate the nation’s sports culture to new heights by connecting the country’s youth with technology and training,” said Dhami.
The programme includes events such as the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), University Games, Winter Games, Para Games, and Khelo India Beach Games. It also supports athletes through scholarships, coaching, and playfield development initiatives.
In the 2023–24 Union Budget, the Khelo India Programme received a significant boost, with its allocation rising to approximately Rs 1,000 crore, up from around Rs 596 crore in 2022–23. After the fund allocation, the Khelo India Para Games were also introduced and held for the first time in 2023. A network of Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) also expanded nationwide, providing training facilities and support for promising young athletes.
For 2024–25, the allocation was adjusted to around Rs 900 crore, higher than the previous year’s revised figure, forming the largest portion of the sports ministry’s budget of approximately Rs 3,442 crore.
In 2024, sports bodies in Telangana, including the Telangana Hockey Association and Telangana Basketball Association, criticised low funding under Khelo India, highlighting that regions within the state with strong athlete representation received smaller shares compared to others, raising concerns about the fairness of distribution.
In the latest Budget, the sports ministry’s allocation increased from Rs 3,442 crore last year to Rs 3,794 crore, a rise of over Rs 350 crore. Khelo India received Rs 1,000 crore, up Rs 200 crore from its Rs 800 crore allocation in 2024–2025.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)