Cabinet Approves Expanded Khelo India Scheme and Enhanced Support for National Sports Federations
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced assistance for National Sports Federations (ANSFs) for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore is nearly eight times the previous Khelo India Scheme, marking a transformative investment in sports development. This decision underscores the government's commitment to leveraging sports for youth development and nation-building, aligning with India's ambition to become a global sports powerhouse.
Background
The Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2018 to promote sports at the grassroots level and develop a strong sporting culture in India. The revised scheme builds on the earlier version, integrating with the Khelo Bharat Policy 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020. It aims to create a seamless pathway from school and village playgrounds to Olympic podiums, ensuring no sporting talent is left unnoticed due to geography, economic background, or lack of opportunities.
Key facts
The Union Cabinet approved the expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced support for National Sports Federations (ANSFs) for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore.
The approved outlay is nearly eight times that of the previous Khelo India Scheme.
The scheme is designed to create a seamless pathway for every talented young Indian from school and village playgrounds to Olympic podiums.
It aligns with the Khelo Bharat Policy 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020.
The scheme establishes an integrated nationwide sports ecosystem including National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), Khelo India Centres of Excellence (KICOEs), Sports Authority of India Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAA), Khelo India Centres (KIC), and Armed Forces Youth Sports Companies (YSCs).
Two new initiatives - Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrisht Vidyalayas (KIUV) - will integrate sports with mainstream education and enable early identification and systematic nurturing of talented children.
The scheme introduces the Emerging Khelo India Athlete (E-KIA) category, expanding the structured athlete development ecosystem by about ten times.
A robust nationwide talent identification framework will include Talent Identification Development Committees, Regional Committees, Talent Scouts, High-Performance Directors, and High-Performance Managers.
The scheme establishes a clear progression pathway from grassroots competitions to Khelo India and then to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
It strengthens the domestic competition ecosystem by supporting national championships, school, university, regional, and sport-specific leagues.
Prelims pointers
- Khelo India Scheme: Approved for 2026-27 to 2030-31 with outlay of ₹36,441 crore.
- National Sports Federations (ANSFs): Enhanced assistance approved.
- Khelo Bharat Policy 2025: Aligned with the scheme.
- National Education Policy 2020: Integration with sports.
- New initiatives: Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrisht Vidyalayas (KIUV).
- Athlete categories: Khelo India Athlete (KIA) and Emerging Khelo India Athlete (E-KIA).
- Institutions: NCOE, KICOE, STC, KIAA, KIC, YSC.
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): Progression pathway.
- 2030 Commonwealth Games and Olympic/Paralympic Games hosting ambitions.
- PIB release date: 31 July 2026.
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of sports in youth development and nation-building, with reference to the expanded Khelo India Scheme.
- Critically examine the potential of the Khelo India Scheme to transform India into a global sports powerhouse, considering the challenges of implementation.
- Analyze the integration of sports with education under the National Education Policy 2020 and the Khelo India Scheme.