Union Cabinet approves Rs 36,441 crore sports push with expanded Khelo India Scheme

The Union Cabinet has approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced funding for national sports federations with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore over five years to strengthen grassroots sports, athlete development and India's international sporting ambitions

New Delhi: Calling it the most “ambitious” sports development programme since Independence, the union cabinet on Friday approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced the budget for Assistance to the National Sports Federations (ANSFs) with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore covering the next five years.

The government has allocated Rs 29,054 crore for the next five years to the Khelo India Scheme that aims to build a pool of talented athletes at the grassroots level as India bids to become a global sporting hub by hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and bidding for the 2036 Olympics.

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The assistance to NSFs has been pegged at Rs 7387 crore over the next five years. The existing budgetary allocation for the Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for the year 2026-27 stood at Rs 425 crore.

“The approved outlay is nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme, reflecting the Government’s commitment to making sports a cornerstone of youth development, nation-building and India’s emergence as a global sporting powerhouse,” read a statement from the government.

To strengthen the school sports ecosystem, the Government has introduced two new initiatives — Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV) — which will “integrate sports with mainstream education and enable early identification and systematic nurturing of talented children.”

The Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) Scheme for the period 2026-31 will support Indian athletes and teams through funding for coaching, sports science, modern equipment, international exposure, coaching camps, engagement of foreign experts and participation in major international competitions.

“It will also support sports cooperation with countries of the Global South and promote India’s indigenous sports internationally,” the government stated.

“Special emphasis has been placed on expanding opportunities for women athletes, para-athletes, indigenous sports, and sports as a tool for peace, inclusion and community development.

“The scheme also provides support for organising the National Games and hosting major international sporting events in India,” the statement read.

The scheme also envisages a unified digital sports platform on which athlete databases, infrastructure, competitions, coaching resources, talent assessments, funding and Fit India participation would be integrated.

The platform will enable data-driven planning, “transparent governance and personalised athlete development.”