Cabinet Approves ₹36,441 Crore Expanded Khelo India Scheme

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the expansion of the Khelo India Scheme along with enhanced financial assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The landmark decision marks the largest investment in India's sporting ecosystem since Independence and underscores the Government's commitment to making sports a key pillar of youth development and nation-building.

The approved allocation is nearly eight times larger than the previous Khelo India Scheme, aiming to create a seamless pathway for talented athletes—from school playgrounds and village sports fields to the Olympic podium. The initiative aligns with Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020, while supporting India's ambitions for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Investing in Coaches and Technology

To strengthen India's sports ecosystem, the Government will establish the National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) to standardise coaching qualifications and improve professional standards for coaches and support staff.

A unified digital sports platform will also be created to integrate athlete databases, competitions, infrastructure, coaching resources, talent assessments, funding and Fit India participation. This technology-driven approach is expected to enhance transparency, governance and personalised athlete development.

Comprehensive Athlete Development Pathway

For the first time, the scheme introduces a structured athlete development pathway that supports young sportspersons from talent identification and scientific training to international competition and Olympic preparation.

The nationwide sports ecosystem will include:

National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs)
Khelo India Centres of Excellence (KICoEs)
SAI Training Centres (STCs)
Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAAs)
Khelo India Centres (KICs)
Youth Sports Companies (YSCs) of the Armed Forces
Additionally, two new initiatives—Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV)—will integrate sports with mainstream education and help identify sporting talent at an early age.

Athlete Pool to Expand Nearly Tenfold

A major reform under the revamped scheme is the introduction of the Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs) category alongside the existing Khelo India Athletes programme. This move is expected to expand India's structured athlete development ecosystem by nearly ten times, bringing thousands of young athletes under professional coaching, sports science support and long-term mentoring.

The Government will also strengthen talent identification through dedicated committees, zonal networks, talent scouts, High Performance Directors and High Performance Managers to ensure continuous monitoring and development of promising athletes.

Greater Competitive Opportunities

The scheme significantly enhances India's domestic competition ecosystem by supporting school, university, regional and sport-specific leagues, as well as national championships.
Special emphasis has been placed on:
Women athletes
Para-athletes
Indigenous sports
Community sports and peace initiatives
Hosting National Games and international sporting events in India

Expanding the Fit India Movement

The Government will further expand the Fit India Movement to encourage active lifestyles among youth, promote women's participation in sports, improve outreach in border and remote areas, and support sports-based campaigns against substance abuse.

Public-Private Partnerships

The revamped scheme encourages greater collaboration with private academies, corporate partners and institutions to strengthen sports infrastructure, athlete development and innovation, creating a comprehensive national sports ecosystem.

देश में खेल संस्कृति को बढ़ावा देने के लिए हमारी सरकार पूरी तरह प्रतिबद्ध है। इसी कड़ी में खेलो इंडिया स्कीम के विस्तार के साथ-साथ राष्ट्रीय खेल महासंघों को दी जाने वाली सहायता में बढ़ोतरी को मंजूरी दी गई है। इससे देशभर के युवा खिलाड़ियों को बेहतर प्रशिक्षण, आधुनिक सुविधाएं और…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 31, 2026

PM Modi Welcomes Cabinet Decision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Cabinet's decision through a social media post, stating:
"Our government is fully committed to promoting sports culture in the country. In line with this, approval has been granted for the expansion of the Khelo India scheme, along with an increase in assistance provided to national sports federations. This will provide young athletes across the country with better training, modern facilities, and more opportunities to hone their talents."

With record funding, modern infrastructure, technology-driven athlete development and strengthened grassroots programmes, the expanded Khelo India Scheme is expected to play a transformative role in building India's sporting future and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.