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.
This is the country’s most ambitious sports development programme since Independence. The aspirations of the youth of the country towards sports has been given a major boost and will have a transformational impact over the coming decade.
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
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 and Paralympic Games.
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
More competitions, greater opportunities
Recognising that sporting excellence depends on regular competition, the revamped scheme significantly strengthens India’s domestic competition ecosystem. It supports school, university, regional and sport-specific leagues alongside national championships to provide sustained competitive exposure to young athletes.
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
