The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31, marking the country's biggest investment in sports development since Independence.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet said the expanded programme aims to strengthen India's sporting ecosystem by identifying talent at the grassroots, improving training infrastructure and preparing athletes for international competitions, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the country's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
According to an official release, the approved outlay is nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme, reflecting the government's push to make sports a key pillar of youth development and nation-building.
The revamped scheme introduces a comprehensive athlete development pathway, providing support from talent identification and scientific coaching to elite training and Olympic preparation. It also expands the nationwide sports ecosystem through 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.
To strengthen sports at the school level, the government has introduced Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas, which will integrate sports with mainstream education and facilitate early talent identification.
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A new Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs) category will significantly expand the athlete development programme, bringing thousands of additional young sportspersons under structured coaching and long-term mentoring.
The scheme also seeks to strengthen domestic competitions by supporting school, university, regional and sport-specific leagues, while placing greater emphasis on women athletes, para-athletes and indigenous sports.
The government will establish a National Coach Accreditation Board to improve coaching standards and launch a unified digital sports platform integrating athlete databases, competitions, coaching resources and funding.
The strengthened ANSF Scheme will provide financial support for coaching, sports science, international exposure, equipment and participation in global competitions, while also promoting India's indigenous sports overseas.
The government said the initiative aims to build a robust sporting culture, expand participation and position India among the world's leading sporting nations as part of its Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
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