Govt Plans Khelo India Mission to Revamp Sports Sector
New Delhi: The government’s flagship Khelo India program to discover sports talent at the grassroots level will get a boost on Sunday with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposing the launch of a Khelo India mission that will also focus on systematic development of training centers and coaches in the next decade.
Presenting the Union Budget for 2026-27, the minister said the mission will facilitate an integrated talent development program through interconnected pathways. The Khelo India program was launched in 2017 and its main objective was to organize national level competitions across age groups to identify talent.
“The sports sector provides ample employment, skills and business opportunities. I propose to launch a Khelo India mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade, taking forward the systematic nurturing of sports talent mobilized through the Khelo India programme,” Sitharaman said in her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha. he said.
“The mission will facilitate: (a) an integrated talent development pathway supported by training centers at basic, secondary and elite levels; (b) systematic development of coaches and support staff; (c) integration of sports science and technology; (d) competitions and leagues to promote sports culture and provide platforms; (e) development of sports infrastructure for training and competition.”
The Finance Minister also said that India has the potential to become a global hub for high-quality and affordable sports products.
“I have proposed a specific initiative for sports products that would encourage manufacturing, research and innovation in material sciences as well as equipment design,” he said.
A task force appointed by the Ministry of Sports, led by national Pullela Gopichand, has recently advocated for greater emphasis on creating a pool of high-quality coaches.
He proposed a Target Olympic Podium Scheme to ensure that coaches are provided financial support similar to that received by elite athletes to boost India’s future medal hopes.
India will host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and is also bidding to host the Olympics in 2036.
