Govt Gives Mega Rs 36,441-Crore Push to Khelo India

• Cabinet approves revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced ANSF support with Rs 36,441 crore outlay.
• Funding covers five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31, nearly eight times the previous Khelo India outlay.
• New athlete pathway will link grassroots competitions, Khelo India and Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
• Government plans feeder schools, coach accreditation and a unified digital sports platform.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 31st July: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved a major expansion of the Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs), with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

The government described the initiative as the country’s most ambitious sports development programme since Independence, aimed at creating a seamless pathway for young athletes from school playgrounds and village sports fields to international competitions and the Olympic podium.

The approved outlay is nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme, reflecting a significant expansion of government investment in grassroots sports, athlete development, infrastructure, coaching and high-performance training.

The revamped programme is aligned with the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020 and seeks to integrate sports with education, fitness, technology and scientific training.

It will also support India’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the country’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

New Pathway From Grassroots to Olympics
Under the revamped scheme, the government will establish a comprehensive athlete development pathway covering talent identification, scientific training, competitive exposure and Olympic preparation.

The nationwide ecosystem will include 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.

These institutions will provide coaching, sports science support and infrastructure to athletes at different stages of their development.

Two new initiatives — Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV) — will also be introduced to strengthen school-level sports.

The government said these initiatives would integrate sports with mainstream education while enabling early identification and systematic development of talented children.

Athlete Pool to Expand Nearly Ten-Fold
One of the major changes under the revamped scheme will be the introduction of the Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs) category alongside the existing Khelo India Athletes programme.

According to the government, the initiative will expand the structured athlete development ecosystem by nearly ten times, bringing thousands of additional young athletes under professional coaching, scientific support and long-term mentoring.

Talent Identification Development Committees, Zonal Committees, talent scouts, High Performance Directors and High Performance Managers will form part of a strengthened nationwide identification network.

A progression pathway will link grassroots competitions with Khelo India and subsequently the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), providing selected athletes access to advanced training and international exposure.

More Competitions for Young Athletes
The revamped scheme will expand India’s domestic competition structure through school, university, regional and sport-specific leagues alongside national championships.

Special emphasis will be placed on women athletes, para-athletes and indigenous sports, while sports-based initiatives will also be used to promote inclusion, peace and community development.

Funding will also be available for organising the National Games and hosting major international sporting events in India.

Fit India Movement to Expand
The government will significantly expand the Fit India Movement, particularly among young people, to promote active and healthier lifestyles.

The programme will include campaigns aimed at increasing women’s participation in sports, expanding outreach in border and remote regions and using sports to counter substance abuse.

The Centre said the objective was to position sports not merely as a competitive activity but also as a tool for wider social transformation.

National Coach Accreditation Board Planned
The government will establish a National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) to standardise coaching qualifications and improve professional standards among coaches and support personnel.

A unified digital sports platform will also be developed to integrate information related to athletes, infrastructure, competitions, coaches, talent assessments, funding and Fit India participation.

The platform is expected to support data-driven planning, transparent governance and personalised athlete development.

The scheme will also encourage greater participation by private academies, corporate partners and other institutions in infrastructure creation, talent development and athlete support.

Enhanced Assistance to Sports Federations
Alongside Khelo India, the Cabinet approved a strengthened Assistance to National Sports Federations Scheme for 2026-31.

The programme will fund coaching, sports science, modern equipment, international exposure, training camps, foreign experts and participation of Indian athletes and teams in major international competitions.

It will also support sporting cooperation with countries of the Global South and efforts to promote India’s indigenous sports internationally.

The government said the expanded Khelo India and ANSF programmes would form a national mission to nurture sporting talent, strengthen India’s fitness culture and build a competitive ecosystem capable of positioning the country among the world’s leading sporting nations as it moves towards Viksit Bharat@2047.