Revamped Khelo India Scheme (2026-2031), Objectives, Budget

The Revamped Khelo India Scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet with an enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) Scheme and a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31. The Revamped Khelo India Scheme marks India’s largest sports development programme since Independence, aiming to build a seamless pathway from grassroots participation to Olympic excellence and strengthen India’s long-term sporting ambitions.

About the Revamped Khelo India Scheme

The Revamped Khelo India Scheme marks a major shift from promoting sports participation to creating a comprehensive athlete development ecosystem that supports every talented sportsperson from school playgrounds and village sports fields to the Olympic podium.

• Duration: Approved for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.
• Financial Outlay: Provides a combined allocation of ₹36,441 crore for the Revamped Khelo India Scheme and the enhanced ANSF Scheme.
  • The approved outlay is nearly eight times higher than the previous Khelo India Scheme, making it India’s largest sports development programme since Independence.
• Objective: To ensure that no sporting talent remains undiscovered because of geography, economic background or lack of opportunity by creating a seamless pathway from grassroots to elite sports.
• Policy Convergence: Aligns with Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025 and the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 by integrating sports with education, fitness, technology and high-performance training.
• Long-term Focus: Supports India’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the country’s 2036 Olympic ambitions, Olympic and Paralympic hosting aspirations, and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Why is the Revamped Khelo India Scheme Needed?

India’s sporting ambitions have expanded significantly, but its Olympic performance highlights the need for a stronger grassroots sports ecosystem and a larger pool of world-class athletes.

• India achieved its best-ever Olympic finish in the 21st century by securing 48th position with seven medals at the Tokyo Olympics (2021).
• India slipped to 71st position with six medals at the Paris Olympics (2024), highlighting the need for more consistent international performances.

To support India’s 2036 Olympic hosting aspirations and emerge as a global sporting power, the country needs a much larger pool of elite athletes capable of winning 30-40 Olympic medals, including double-digit gold medals.

The Revamped Khelo India Scheme addresses these gaps by strengthening talent identification, scientific training, coaching, sports infrastructure and the athlete development pathway from grassroots to the Olympic podium.

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Major Reforms under the Revamped Khelo India Scheme

The Revamped Khelo India Scheme introduces structural reforms to strengthen athlete development, modernise governance and expand India’s sports ecosystem.

Athlete Development

• Comprehensive Athlete Pathway: Creates a structured pathway covering talent identification, scientific training, regular competitions, international exposure and Olympic preparation.
• Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs): Introduces a new athlete category, expanding the structured athlete pool from 2,904 to nearly 28,000 athletes.
• TOPS Integration: Establishes a seamless progression from grassroots competitions → Khelo India → Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

Sports Ecosystem

• Integrated Institutional Network: Brings together 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.
• Infrastructure Expansion: Expands Khelo India Centres, Centres of Excellence and accredited academies to improve access to world-class coaching, sports science support and modern infrastructure.

School Sports and Talent Identification

• Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS): Introduced for early identification and systematic nurturing of talented children.
• Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV): Integrates sports with mainstream education in line with NEP 2020.
• Strengthened Talent Identification: Creates a nationwide framework involving Talent Identification Development Committees, Zonal Committees, Talent Scouts, High Performance Directors and High Performance Managers.

Competition, Inclusion and Fitness

• Competition Ecosystem: Supports school, university, regional and sport-specific leagues along with national championships for regular competitive exposure.
• Inclusive Sports: Expands opportunities for women athletes, para-athletes and indigenous sports while promoting sports for peace and community development.
• Major Events: Supports the National Games and hosting of international sporting events in India.
• Fit India Expansion: Scales up the Fit India Movement to promote fitness, women’s participation, outreach in border and remote areas, and campaigns against substance abuse.

Coaching, Technology and Governance

• National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB): Standardises coaching qualifications and strengthens professional standards.
• Unified Digital Sports Platform: Integrates athlete databases, infrastructure, competitions, coaching resources, talent assessments and funding for transparent, data-driven governance.

Public-Private Partnerships

• Encourages collaboration with private academies and corporate partners to strengthen sports infrastructure, athlete development and innovation.

Enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) Scheme

• Supports coaching, sports science, modern equipment, foreign experts, coaching camps and international exposure for athletes and teams.
• Promotes sports cooperation with Global South countries and the international promotion of India’s indigenous sports.

Significance of the Revamped Khelo India Scheme

The Revamped Khelo India Scheme represents a major structural reform that strengthens India’s long-term sporting ecosystem and global competitiveness.

• Transforms Khelo India into a comprehensive athlete development ecosystem with a seamless pathway from grassroots to elite sports.
• Expands the organised athlete base and strengthens scientific coaching, sports science and institutional support.
• Improves coaching quality and governance through NCAB and a unified digital sports platform.
• Supports India’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, 2036 Olympic ambitions and Viksit Bharat@2047.
• Promotes sports as a tool for youth development, fitness and nation-building.

Challenges of the Revamped Khelo India Scheme

Despite its ambitious reforms, the success of the Revamped Khelo India Scheme will depend on sustained implementation and institutional support.

• Ensuring effective and transparent implementation across the country.
• Converting grassroots talent into consistent Olympic and international medal winners.
• Strengthening grassroots infrastructure, coaching capacity and competition culture.
• Addressing India’s doping challenge to improve credibility in international sports.
• Sustaining a nationwide sports culture through greater participation and the Fit India Movement.