Union Budget 2026-27 gives a major push to the sports sector; Khelo India Mission announced.

New Delhi, February 1, 2026: The Union Budget 2026-27 marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s sports ecosystem, with focused interventions aimed at talent development, infrastructure, creation, manufacturing, and employment generation.

Presenting the Union Budget in Parliament, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of the Khelo India Mission, envisioned to transform the sports sector over the next decade.

Highlighting sports as an emerging development sector, the Finance Minister said, “The sports sector provides multiple means of employment, skilling, and job opportunities. Taking forward the systematic nurturing of sports talent set in motion through the Khelo India program earlier, I propose to launch a Khelo India Mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade.”

The Union Budget has also allocated Rs 500 crore for the promotion of sports goods manufacturing, underscoring the government’s intent to boost domestic production and innovation.

Union Budget has a holistic framework for Khelo India Mission:

The newly announced Khelo India Mission will adopt a comprehensive and structured approach to strengthen the sports ecosystem nationwide. Key focus areas include: Integrated talent development pathways supported by foundational, intermediate, and elite-level training centres, Systematic development of coaches and support staff, integration of sports science and technology, Competitions and leagues to promote sports culture and provide platforms for athletes, and development of sports infrastructure for training and competition.

The mission aims to create structured athlete pathways, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve performance outcomes at all levels.

Youth-Centric vision for sports development:

Emphasizing the youth-driven nature of the Union Budget, the Finance Minister said the proposals reflect ideas and aspirations emerging from extensive youth engagement initiatives.

“In the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, several innovative ideas were shared with our Prime Minister, which have inspired many of the proposals, making this a unique Youva Shakti-driven Budget,” Nirmala Sitharaman noted.

Boost to sports goods manufacturing:

Recognizing India’s growing potential in the global sports manufacturing ecosystem, the Budget proposes a dedicated initiative for sports goods manufacturing.

India has the potential to emerge as a global hub for high-quality, affordable sports goods. I propose a dedicated initiative that will promote manufacturing, research, and innovation in equipment design and material sciences,” the Finance Minister said.

The initiative is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing, encourage innovation, and enhance India’s presence in global sports supply chains.

Enhanced allocation for Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry:

The Union Budget 2026-27 provides enhanced financial support to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, with an increase of Rs 1,133 crore in overall allocation. The ministry’s budget has risen from Rs 3,346 crore (RE) in 2025-26 to Rs 4,478.88 crore (BE) in 2026-27. The increased allocation aims to support India’s ambition of becoming one of the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and among the top 5 by 2047.

The funds will strengthen athlete development programs, youth engagement initiatives, coaching and support systems, sports science integration, and infrastructure development.

The enhanced support reaffirms the government’s commitment to empowering India’s youth and building a robust, inclusive, and globally competitive sports ecosystem.

Also Read: Nirmala Sitharaman’s 2-day visit to Bihar will boost the rural economy of the eastern zone.

EOM.