Cabinet approves revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) with a combined outlay of Rs.36,441 crore for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31, reaffirming the Government's commitment to harnessing the power of sports for youth development and nation-building.
Aligned with the vision of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020, the scheme integrates sports with education, fitness, technology and high-performance training while laying a strong foundation for India's long-term sporting ambitions, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the country's bid to host the Olympic 2032 and Paralympic Games.
- The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated a record ₹4,479.88 crore to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, representing a 270% increase from ₹1,219 crore in 2013–14.
Every talented youth gets a pathway to excellence:
- For the first time, a comprehensive athlete development pathway has been created to support young sportspersons at every stage—from talent identification and scientific training to international competition and Olympic preparation.
- The scheme establishes an integrated nationwide sports ecosystem comprising National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), Khelo India Centres of Excellence (KICoEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAAs), Khelo India Centres (KICs) and Youth Sports Companies (YSCs) of the Armed Forces. Together, these institutions will provide world-class coaching, sports science support and modern infrastructure across the country.
- 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.
India's athlete pool to expand nearly ten-fold:
- A major reform under the scheme is the creation of the Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs) category alongside the existing Khelo India Athletes programme. This 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.
- A strengthened nationwide talent identification framework involving Talent Identification Development Committees, Zonal Committees, Talent Scouts, High Performance Directors and High Performance Managers will ensure continuous identification, tracking and development of promising athletes across the country.
- The scheme also establishes a clear progression pathway from grassroots competitions to Khelo India, and subsequently to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), enabling deserving athletes to receive world-class training, international exposure and comprehensive support to compete for medals at the highest level.
Building a fitter and healthier India:
- The Fit India Movement will be significantly expanded to promote fitness as a nationwide movement, particularly among young people. Campaigns will encourage active lifestyles, women's participation in sports, outreach in border and remote areas and sports-based initiatives against substance abuse, reinforcing sports as a vehicle for social transformation.
Investing in coaches, technology and innovation:
- Recognising that athletes can excel only with world-class support systems, the Government will establish the National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) to standardise coaching qualifications, improve professional standards and strengthen the capacity of coaches and support staff across the country.
- The scheme also envisages a unified digital sports platform integrating athlete databases, infrastructure, competitions, coaching resources, talent assessments, funding and Fit India participation. The platform will enable data-driven planning, transparent governance and personalised athlete development.
- Establishes a structured, data-driven athlete tracking system to position India among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and top 5 by 2047 (Viksit Bharat@2047).
Stronger partnerships for sporting excellence:
- The Government will deepen collaboration with private academies, corporate partners and other institutions to leverage investment, innovation and expertise in sports infrastructure, talent development and athlete support, creating a truly national sports ecosystem driven by both public and private participation.
Supporting India's global sporting ambitions:
- To complement the revamped Khelo India Scheme, the Government has also approved a strengthened Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) Scheme for the period 2026-31.
- The scheme 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.
Infographics Based on revamped Khelo India Scheme
Other Key Related Additional information:
1. Key Achievements & Infrastructure Footprint (As of July 2026)
- Infrastructure Capital Approval- Approved 349 new sports infrastructure projects valued at ₹3,176 crore across various States and Union Territories.
- District-Level KICs- Established 1,067 functional Khelo India Centres (KICs) to ensure every district across India possesses a dedicated grassroots training node.
- Supported Academies & Athletes- Currently supports 267 accredited sports academies and provides direct coaching, equipment, medical care, and out-of-pocket stipends to 2,745 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs).
- Mass Participation Volume- Over 63,000 youth and university athletes have actively competed in the various Khelo India Games editions since 2018.
- Year-on-Year Growth- Funding grew steadily from ₹1,756 crore (2017–20), to ₹3,790.50 crore (2021–26), reaching an annual allocation of ₹924.35 crore in FY 2026–27 for outcome-driven execution.
2. The Multi-Disciplinary Khelo India Games Ecosystem
- Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG)- Launched in 2018 as Khelo India School Games in New Delhi, re-branded in 2019 alongside the Indian Olympic Association as the flagship national talent competition.
- University & Winter Games (2020)- Introduced Khelo India University Games (KIUG) to bridge varsity sports with professional ranks, alongside Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) for snow/ice disciplines.
- Para Games Inclusion (2023)- Launched the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) to provide dedicated, fully accessible competitive platforms for para-athletes.
- Coastal & Water Expansion (2025)- Added the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) and Khelo India Water Sports Festival to harness India's 7,500+ km maritime and inland water resource base.
- Tribal Games Debut (2026)- Debuted the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) in 2026 to identify, preserve, and promote indigenous sporting talent and traditional games from interior tribal regions.
3. Targeted Support Initiatives (TOPS, KIRTI & Manufacturing)
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)- Revamped in 2018 under MYAS to support elite athletes; as of April 2026, it funds 51 Core Athletes, 52 Para Core Athletes, and 130 Development Athletes with monthly stipends (₹50,000 for Core, ₹25,000 for Development).
- KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification)- Uses AI-driven talent assessment protocols and data analytics across 174 Talent Assessment Centres (1,87,921 assessments completed) for transparent selection among children aged 9–18.
- Sports Goods Manufacturing Initiative- Allocated ₹500 crore in the Union Budget 2026–27 to transform India into a global hub for high-quality, affordable sports equipment and material science R&D.
- Private Sector Partnerships- Encourages corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments and private academy collaborations to bring global expertise into sports infrastructure.
- Fit India Movement Expansion- Promotes active lifestyle awareness across schools and communities to broaden the bottom tier of the national fitness pyramid.
4. Multi-Sport International Benchmark Performances
- Olympic Transformation- Advanced from 2 medals at Rio 2016 (117 athletes), to 7 medals at Tokyo 2020 (119 athletes), and 6 medals at Paris 2024 (117 athletes).
- Paralympic Record Trajectory- Progressive growth from 4 medals at Rio 2016, to 19 medals at Tokyo 2020, reaching a historic best of 29 medals (7 Gold, 9 Silver, 13 Bronze) at Paris 2024.
- Asian Games Landmark- Improved from 57 medals (Incheon 2014) and 69 medals (Jakarta 2018) to an all-time high of 107 medals (28 Gold, 38 Silver, 41 Bronze) at Hangzhou 2023.
- Commonwealth Games Tally- Sustained strong performances with 64 medals (Glasgow 2014), 66 medals (Gold Coast 2018), and 61 medals (Birmingham 2022).
- Glasgow 2026 Execution- Secured 4th place with 39 medals (13 Gold, 17 Silver, 9 Bronze); highlighted by 10 boxing medals (7 golds), historic individual firsts in Judo (Asmita Dey, Harsh Tokas), Decathlon (Tejaswin Shankar), and track-and-field double medals (Gulveer Singh).
5. Upcoming Olympic Events:
- Last Summer Olympics 2024: Paris, France
- Winter Olympics 2026: Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
- Summer Olympics 2028: Los Angeles, USA
- Summer Olympics 2032: Brisbane, Australia
By creating a seamless pathway from grassroots talent to global sporting success, the scheme aims to nurture champions, inspire a culture of fitness, strengthen India's sporting ecosystem and position the country among the world's leading sporting nations as it moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
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