New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved an expanded Khelo India Scheme along with enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF), with a combined outlay of Rs 36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Officials described it as the country’s most ambitious sports development programme since Independence, with the approved outlay nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme.
The revamped scheme aims to build a seamless pathway for talented young Indians, from school playgrounds and village sports fields to the Olympic podium, ensuring no sporting talent goes undiscovered due to geography, economic background or lack of opportunity.
It has been aligned with the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020, integrating sports with education, fitness, technology and high-performance training, while laying groundwork for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and India’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For the first time, a comprehensive athlete development pathway has been created spanning talent identification, scientific training, international competition and Olympic preparation, according to an official statement.
This will be supported by an integrated nationwide ecosystem comprising 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.
Two new school-level initiatives, Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas, have also been introduced to integrate sports with mainstream education and enable early identification of talented children.
A major reform under the scheme is the creation of the Emerging Khelo India Athletes category, alongside the existing Khelo India Athletes programme, which is expected to expand the structured athlete development ecosystem nearly tenfold. A strengthened talent identification framework, involving Talent Identification Development Committees, Zonal Committees, Talent Scouts, High Performance Directors and High Performance Managers, will track and develop promising athletes nationwide.
The scheme also establishes a progression pathway from grassroots competitions to Khelo India and subsequently to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
The scheme further strengthens India’s domestic competition ecosystem, supporting school, university, regional and sport-specific leagues alongside national championships. Special emphasis has been placed on expanding opportunities for women athletes, para-athletes and indigenous sports, along with support for organising the National Games and hosting major international sporting events in India.
The Fit India Movement will also be significantly expanded to promote fitness nationwide, with campaigns encouraging active lifestyles, women’s participation in sports, outreach in border and remote areas, and sports-based initiatives against substance abuse.
To strengthen coaching standards, the Government will establish the National Coach Accreditation Board, along with a unified digital sports platform integrating athlete databases, infrastructure, competitions, coaching resources, talent assessments, funding and Fit India participation. The Government also plans to deepen collaboration with private academies and corporate partners to strengthen sports infrastructure and athlete support.
Alongside the revamped Khelo India Scheme, the Cabinet has approved a strengthened ANSF Scheme for 2026-31, which will fund coaching, sports science, modern equipment, international exposure, coaching camps and engagement of foreign experts for Indian athletes and teams. It will also support sports cooperation with Global South countries and promote India’s indigenous sports internationally.
