In a landmark move for the nation's sporting landscape, the Union Cabinet has greenlit a massive expenditure of Rs 36,441 crore over the next five years for the expansion of the Khelo India scheme and support for national sports federations, hailing it as the most ambitious sports development program since independence. The sweeping financial backing is designed to transform India into a global sporting powerhouse and lay the groundwork for upcoming major international bids.
Massive Outlay for Khelo India Scheme
The government has earmarked Rs 29,054 crore specifically for the Khelo India scheme over the next five-year period. This flagship initiative aims to scout and nurture grassroots sporting talent across the country, creating a robust talent pipeline that will help propel India toward becoming a global sports hub, particularly as the nation eyes bids to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games.
Support for National Sports Federations
In tandem with grassroots development, the assistance program for National Sports Federations has been allocated Rs 7,387 crore over the same five-year timeframe. Notably, the budgetary provision for this specific head stood at Rs 425 crore for the 2026-27 period alone. An official government statement emphasized that the newly approved budget is nearly eightfold larger than the previous Khelo India program, reflecting the government's unwavering commitment to youth development, nation-building, and elevating India's stature in international sports.
New School-Level Sports Initiatives
To strengthen the sporting ecosystem right from the foundational school level, the government has introduced two new specialized initiatives namely Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrisht Vidyalayas. These programs are designed to seamlessly integrate sports with mainstream education, enabling early identification of talented children and providing them with structured, systematic pathways for athletic development.
Coaching, Science, and Global Exposure
Under the Assistance to National Sports Federations scheme for the 2006-2031 period, financial assistance will be directed toward providing Indian athletes and teams with top-tier coaching, advanced sports science support, modern equipment, international training exposure, participation in major competitions, specialized training camps, and the expertise of foreign specialists. The government noted that this will also foster sports cooperation with Global South nations and promote India's traditional indigenous sports on the international stage.
Inclusivity and Integrated Digital Platform
Special priority has been allocated within the scheme to women athletes, para-athletes, indigenous sports, and leveraging sports as a vital tool for peace, social inclusion, and community development. Financial assistance will also be extended for hosting prestigious national games and major international sporting championships within India. Furthermore, the plan proposes the creation of an integrated digital sports platform that will consolidate athlete databases, sports infrastructure details, competition schedules, coaching resources, talent evaluations, financial assistance tracking, and Fit India movement updates into a single unified portal.
Talent Scouting and Long-Term Vision
According to the government, this advanced digital platform will facilitate data-driven policy planning, ensure transparent administration, and support personalized athlete development. Officials expressed confidence that the restructured scheme will establish an impenetrable foundation for India's long-term sporting ambitions, including the country's bids to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As another major structural reform within the program, a brand new category named Emerging Khelo India Athletes will be introduced alongside the existing Khelo India Athletes framework. To ensure nationwide talent discovery, a comprehensive national talent-scouting mechanism will be deployed, featuring regional committees, dedicated scouts, high-performance directors, and high-performance managers who will collaboratively track, mentor, and foster promising young athletes across every corner of the country.
